Three years ago, when I started my first blog, I was intimidated. I studied articles and books about blogging and knew that I would need to post quality work often to be successful.
There was no way I had that many stories in me. At least not enough interesting ones. I explored the Internet and was disheartened. There were so many amazing blogs already out there. These writers, the ones that had thousands of people popping onto their websites everyday, they were all incredibly gifted, astonishingly intelligent, and/or had crazy exciting lives. I didn't measure up.
There was nothing worthy about me which would make a blog compelling.
Frustrated, I clicked through a dozen more websites. I landed on a blog ran by a stay-at-home mom, just like me. She had over a hundred thousand followers. The article on the front page was about her making a hash brown casserole. It was a funny story and recipe. It made me laugh. It made me want to get out my crockpot and start cooking. There was nothing very extraordinary about this woman except one thing:
She was sharing her life with open honesty in a way that made me want to do something.
And I finally got it.
Blogging isn't about the one doing the writing. Not when it is good. Blogging is about the people who are reading. Blogging is about sharing something so that it can make someone laugh, change, learn, be comforted, or be encouraged.
I could do that. I loved to do that.
Blogging was not a dreaded chore, but an exciting opportunity to love others.
Each time I remember this, I smile. Even today, when I rested fingertips to keypad, my heart was full of joy. For when I reach out and touch one of God's children today with my words, just one, I will feel at peace with my work.