Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.  Proverbs: 15:31

I remember many years back a moment in a college English class. I had written a paper on Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  On the day our papers were to be handed back to us, my instructor stood in front of the class and told this story…

“This past weekend I walked into a bar to meet some friends, and  I noticed sitting at the bar a beautiful woman.  She had beautiful skin, long silky hair, and a captivating smile.  I was mesmerized.  I had forgotten who I came in to meet and just watched her as she talked, smiled and laughed.  Then, as I was about to approach her and introduce myself,  she reached up, and picked her nose.” He then held up a paper and said: “This paper is a nose-picker!”

He placed the paper back into the stack and proceded to use the opportunity to explain the use of an apostrophe and its importance.  As he explained I felt my face grow hotter and hotter.  I knew the paper was mine.  All these years later, I don’t remember him handing the papers back or if the rest of the class knew it was me.  What I do remember is looking at that big fat “A”.  I made an “A”!  My paper was equated to a “beautiful woman”.  As I thumbed through the rest of my paper, the 11 (yes 11) red circles stood out, and I was once again embarrassed by the boogers in my paper.  However, other than those apostrophe issues there we no other marks.  I had a warm fuzzy moment and I smiled!  I made an “A”!

Today, I still struggle with those issues of apostrophes, commas, and my spelling leaves much to be desired.  But, I have had so many more moments that have encouraged me to keep writing, so I write.  Today, I thank my friend Bill for checking for the boogers in my writing.   But even more so, I thank all those who have encouraged me to put myself out there.

Getting past criticism can be difficult, but there is so much more to see.  Sister Mary Clarence in Sister Act 2 says “if you wake up every day and think about singing you are a singer.”  What do you wake up thinking about?  I encourage you to listen to criticism but more importantly follow your heart and your encouragers.

 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,  encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17