I’m not a big crier, folks. I’m just not. Crying gives me a headache and makes my makeup run and when it’s all over I look like I’m suffering from chicken pox, tuberculosis and pink eye all at once.
I’ll give you a sec to get that image out of your head.
Truthfully, though, several things have made me cry recently…both happy and sad. Thought I’d share:
This woman.
I don’t know Kara Tippetts and though I bought her book, The Hardest Peace, I haven’t been able to bring myself to read it just yet. But her story both astounds and challenges me. Kara faced cancer for several years, blogging and speaking about her journey in grace-filled words a little paragraph here can’t begin to do justice to. I highly encourage you to check out her website, www.mundanefaithfulness.com, and especially her Homecoming post.
This boy.
I had a chance to visit my adorable nephew Ollie last weekend and as always, he melted my heart all over again. If you’re new here, you might not know Ollie’s story. He was born in 2010 with multiple heart defects and Down syndrome. He had a slew of surgeries, including several open heart procedures. His first year of life included multiple life-or-death situations.
I was on my elliptical the other night, thinking about Ollie, thinking about all those drives down to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City…thinking about how different life and my family and, seriously, the world would be without Ollie. He has already touched so many lives.
I couldn’t help crying…and then smiling through tears. Because today Ollie isn’t just alive. He’s thriving. He’s strong and smart and soft-hearted and brave. You should’ve seen him on this ride at the park after he’d knocked his head on a metal bar. He cried for all of two seconds, then bravely gave the ride another go…and smiled so adorably! He. is. the. greatest.
This song.
Okay, I know I am constantly gushing about my favorite band—NEEDTOBREATHE. I just love their music so much, guys. But just last night I listened to a live recording of their song “Wasteland.” And yes, I got teary. Because the very first time I heard this song, I was deep in the throes of writing From the Start, my latest release! And I was struggling…big-time.
I don’t really know how to put into words what I felt as I tried to write From the Start. (Although I tried in this post a couple weeks ago.) But it really did feel like a creative—and, too, spiritual—wasteland there for awhile. So when I heard Wasteland for the first time, the lyrics were EVERYTHING I needed to hear…and I cried. Now that I’m on the other side of that book, the song has even more meaning to me. So of course, I cried I again.
You can listen to a live recording of the song if you’re on Spotify or better yet, pre-order their upcoming live album and get several downloads early! Or check out live version, too!
Readers…Readers…Readers
My new book, From the Start, released this week in ebook form and releases next week in paperback. Some readers have gotten their hands on early copies and I’ve received a number of emails and messages in the past couple weeks…especially this week. And last night the impact of all the messages and emails welled in my spirit all at once. Tears, guys. Lots of tears. This was at the same time as I listened to that song I mentioned above. And I felt like God was saying, “Here you go, Melissa. That ‘river in a wasteland’ you kept asking for. That new thing. That joy. Here it is.”
Good tears. Really good tears.
🙂
Comments 16
Those are all excellent reasons to cry! Congrats on your new release!! Can’t wait to read it. (saving an !)
Author
Thanks, Pat!! I can’t wait to read your next one, too. AND my sister is just about to start reading your first two suspense books, as well. YAY!
Those are all good tears:) And we need to cry once in awhile…just when we’re not wearing makeup. 😉
Author
Haha yes! Thankfully I was home alone during all my little episodes…so no one else had to put up with scary-looking-Melissa. 🙂
Love your heart and how this post shows it. You are precious!
Author
Thank you, Cara. <3
Beautiful post, Melissa. Ollie is adorable; he sounds like a special kid from all of your posts. 🙂
Super happy for your success with “From the Start.” It’s a lovely, wonderful and poignant read. Wishing you all kinds of good things with this novel. 🙂
Author
Thanks, Rissi. And yes, Ollie is amazingly special. And yay for From the Start! Thanks for the well wishes. 🙂
And now you’ve got ME crying! Happy tears, stress tears, my-back-aches tears… Speaking of stories that make you cry, I recently read Believing God by Beth Moore. Life changing! So excited to find more books by her. She just digs deep and shares her love of God with every page. And yes, there were tears. But more than that, there was increased faith and love and belief. Definitely an experience to shout out about.
I’m getting to From the Start really soon! Only one more influencer book in front of it on my list. I’m so looking forward to yours, so I’m sure that will be motivation for me to power through the other one even faster. Can’t wait to get these reviews out and keep spreading the word. Love my street teams!
Hugs,
Andrea
Author
I hesitate to admit this, but I have never read a Beth Moore book! Crazy, I know. But that sounds like a great one.
And yay for starting FTS soon!
*blows nose*
From one crier to another—-> (((HUGS)))
Congratulations on From the Start!
Author
Thank you, Cynthia!
Girl, you better stop making me tear up 😉 As long as we’ve walked with the Lord, you’d think He still wouldn’t be able to surprise us with His faithfulness. And yet… still, He does. Still, He reaches into those broken places and brings new life. So encouraging.
Author
“He reaches into those broken places and brings new life.” YES!! Thanks, Crystal!
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