Unexpected Gifts

About a week ago, I had a dream. Or, more accurately, a low-grade nightmare. I was sitting at a large table at Hein & Company Bookstore, copies of Surrendered in front of me and pen in hand, but there was no one else present. The longer I sat alone, the higher my level of anxiety.

This, of course, was because my very first book signing was coming up and, although I didn’t voice my fears aloud, my subconscious wouldn’t be assuaged. I’d had three boxes of books shipped to the Jackson, California bookstore in preparation for the signing. How would I then get them back to Tennessee when no one appeared? This question plagued me more than once over the following days. Or nights.

The dreaded day of the signing was Saturday. And as I’m being shown over and over again, this whole author business isn’t about the book. It’s about the people who may (or may not) read the book. It’s about my sisters, cousin, niece and grand-nephew who drove for hours to surprise me at the event in a stunning display of love and support. It’s about the friend I’ve had since 6th grade who commuted from the Bay Area to celebrate my debut novel, even though we rarely connect—and the passage of time melted away with the first hug. It’s about wonderful friends, former neighbors, past patients of my husband’s, life-long writer cohorts, former church family… It’s all about the individuals who have become so precious in this life.

God keeps reminding me that the gift He’s given me isn’t about me. It’s about the core message He’s put on my heart. The books are just a tool to communicate the message through story. And the message? Hope. The hope that God can (and will) redeem our pain when we truly believe in the healing power of Jesus Christ.

I was overwhelmed with love and gratitude to my husband who proudly snapped picture after picture of me with friends and family who gathered for the three-hour event at Hein & Company Bookstore. I was overwhelmed with joy as friend and family showed up to be part of something bigger than me—and then stayed to connect with others. I was so grateful to Wolf and Linda Hein who have showed so much support for this new author and enthusiastically jumped at the chance to host the signing.

Saturday afternoon wasn’t just a book signing. It was a party! And I can’t thank those who took part in it enough. My fears were groundless (as they usually are) and my joy was complete. And yes, the signing was a success. But more importantly, the connections made in those few hours were priceless.

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