Words and words are all I have... by Anusha Atukorala

I wake up in my hotel room at the Changi airport. The time is 4.40 p.m. Groggy and disoriented, I walk to the bathroom. My eyelids are half closed. I splash cold water on my face. A cup of tea would be nice. I plug in the kettle and make myself a cuppa. I sit back on my bed and sip it slowly. Mmm. That feels good. Very good.

I wake up. I remember. I am here waiting for my connecting flight back home after Mum’s funeral. Without any warning, tears begin to rain down my cheeks. My blouse gets soaked. Mama is gone. My beloved, wonderful, amazing, one of a kind Mother is no more. I miss her so. I can’t reach her. Never again on earth. Never is a sad word. Never is never! I put the cup down. I rush to my overnight bag. I pull out a book. A slim volume with a light green cover. I open it.

“This book is for Anusha when I’m gone. 4/5/07” AA

It’s the journal my Mama left for me. Slowly, I turn its pages and begin to read. The tears continue to fall. But Mum’s journal comforts me, a warm fire on a dark sad winter’s night. Quotations, poems, verses; many in her own beautiful familiar hand writing. What a treasure trove! I read on. I am blessed. Her presence is with me.

That was 6 weeks ago. It’s now almost 2 months since my beloved Mother passed away on the 4th of January 2015. Mama hadn’t been sick for more than a few days, so her death came as a mammoth shock to us her family. We’d been hoping to celebrate her 90th – all 34 of us children, grand children and great grandchildren – only 6 months on. We could hardly believe that we’d been cheated of that special celebration for Mum. She was eagerly looking forward to it and so were we.

In today’s blog I honour the extraordinary woman who was my Mum. Because you see… if not for her, I would not be part of CWD. Mum was a writer. I imbibed my love of books and reading and writing from her. She was a journalist for 72 years – right until she died at age 89. Her Christmas article was published in the newspaper 10 days before. In 2014 she was given the award of Lifetime Achievement in Journalism. Mum was also a counsellor and a speaker and a friend of many. She touched hundreds of people. She used words. To bless and build. To challenge. To build a better world.

The Journal she left me is now my most prized possession. I discover inside an excerpt from an email I wrote to her in June 2007. “I have some good news about my writing. I got my first Aussie acceptance. Isn’t that wonderful? I had a letter yesterday from Strand Publishing. My story ‘A dream realised’ will be printed in a book called ‘Australian stories to inspire the heart…” It touches me now that Mum pasted it in her special journal. She was the "ever-present, totally-for-me" cheer-leader of my writing journey. When I sent her a link to my Amazon Author page just a few weeks before she died, she responded immediately:

Goodness gracious me! I AM vastly impressed, darlintest of authors.
Your devoted fan,
Anne A.

Mum wrote fearlessly to change systems. She challenged injustice and stood up for the downtrodden. Her writing made a difference. Today, though sharing with you a little of her professional career, what I’d like to highlight is something different. For almost 16 years, Mum and I wrote a long daily email to each other every night. Today, the 5093 emails (yes, that many) she sent me over the years comfort me. Her journal blesses me. Mum kept closely in touch with her seven children and their spouses, her eleven grandchildren and their spouses and her 4 great grandchildren. That is a lot of us! Mum was a prolific email correspondent with many people all over the globe; young and old, men and women, people from all walks of life. She was a writer! Not only professionally but all the time.

We writers have one major tool that we use over and over again. Words. Words matter. Words build and create. Like bricks to a builder or paint to an artist, we writers have the time of our lives splashing words about in life's ocean, don’t we? But here’s the question. What of the words we use in our spare time? Are they being put to good use as much as our professional writing? We writers have the ability to touch lives. Do we use words to that end? Are others enriched by our words? All day? Every day? Whom can you bless today through your writing? An email? A snail mail letter? A card? A poem? A few words on Facebook? A status message? A story – not just for publication but to encourage a friend? May you and I continually colour our world with words – words that bless, anoint, encourage, challenge and inspire.

And just as Mum’s journal continues to bring healing to my life – may you and I use words to heal and restore. Are you up for the challenge? And while we are about it – do you have stories of how your words have blessed another? I’d love to hear them.

Anusha Atukorala is a writer with a song in her heart and a message to proclaim. The love of Jesus is her anchor, her strength and her song. Her first book ‘Enjoying the Journey’ is a collection of little God thoughts from every day life. She has been enriched on her writing journey not only by God’s wisdom and inspiration but also by many amazing writer friends just like yourself! You can connect with her on her weekly blog and website Dancing in the Rain. Do drop in to say G'day.

That Boring Chore

7 years ago, God placed my feet on an amazing path – the magnificent journey of becoming a Christian Writer. I have never looked back. Not because of the financial rewards… or rather the lack of it! Not due to the fame and prestige… or the lack of that too. Not due to any worldly benefits … can you think of any? But as all of you my fellow writers would testify – the fulfillment I receive from being a writer is huge. Enormous. Vast. Gargantuan. Mammoth. Epic. Mammoth. Collosal………………Have I said enough?

Yes, I am honoured and blessed to be called a Christian Writer. I am thrilled to be part of a creative community who are Image Bearers of our wonderful, awesome God. The benefits of being one far outweigh any negatives. And then, there are also many perks of being a writer – some which I sometimes don't even recognise. A few years ago, a publisher friend persuaded me that in order to be taken seriously as a writer, I needed a platform. She said my writer’s platform must include a weekly blog. I balked at it. Not that I didn’t like the idea of blog writing. I just didn’t like to add yet another deadline to my already busy schedule. It would be another chore to add to my To-do list each week!

After much thought and prayer however I realised that blog writing was part of the writer’s package. I knew that in order to obey God, there was no way around it. And so I surrendered to Him. In the next few weeks I got busy. I had fun creating my website, ‘Dancing in the Rain’. On the 27th of February 2012, I shared my website (and blog site) with all the world. It was a joyous day. Since then I have written blog after blog after blog. It has actually enriched me. It’s brought a new sense of purpose into my life.

A few weeks into my blog writing, a friend wrote that my blog always encouraged and inspired her. She said she looked forward to reading it every Monday. I was humbled. I was blessed. I was encouraged by her words. And a light went off in my head. From that day onwards, writing my weekly blog was not something I did because I had to. It was because I wanted to. It was a way of honouring God. And of blessing others. Having the right perception and the right attitude made all the difference.

Blog writing wasn’t just a boring chore I had to perform. Instead it became an exciting task with which I could bless God and His world. There was more. During the past few months my world was turned upside down. My church based job which I was very passionate about was whisked away from under me and I was forced to resign. As I grappled with the situation – I found myself floundering in a difficult season of grief and loss.

But guess what! I had still had one job that continued. Yes, that of writing my weekly blog. That ‘boring chore’ now became my lifeline. As I struggled with feelings of failure in my working life – it blessed me to know that there was an area where God still needed me. I was not worthless after all. My once “boring chore” became the joyful focus of each week. It brought meaning to my existence. It kept me going. It blessed me in more ways than one. And I hope blessed many others too. Thank you God. Thank you.

Are you struggling with any tedious aspects of the writing journey that you don’t enjoy? Like editing? Or marketing? Or something else? Let me assure you that the boring aspects of your writing journey may one day become something vitally important. What I've enjoyed most in my blog writing is the connection I have with others. I love hearing from readers how my blog blessed or helped them in their day to day lives. What a great thrill it is when God uses our little offerings and multiplies it for His kingdom.

He doesn’t ask that we reach perfection. Just that we strive at excellence.
He doesn’t demand impossibilities from us. Just our surrender.
He doesn’t force us to do things that are too difficult for us. He desires we obey Him.

Boring? No …wait! Let me rephrase that. Not a boring chore any longer. A joyful task that I offer the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. After all, He’s given me the privilege and honour of sharing His heart with His world. It can’t get better than that, can it? Is God calling you to something today? Do you have a list of excuses as to why you can’t do it? It may be worth your while reflecting on it as you view it through God’s eyes.

One day it may turn out to be your lifeline. And one day the world may resound with praises to our King simply because you obeyed Him.

Anusha Atukorala is passionate about God, His Kingdom, His world, all who live in it, His amazing creation and of course about WRITING. Her first book 'Enjoying the Journey' is a book of little God thoughts and life lessons about every day life. She, like her writing is a work in progress. Do pop into say G'day to her at her website 'Dancing in the Rain.'