Pause.

Dear community of readers,

Leading up to today, I’ve felt something I can only describe as “a calling to be quiet” across social media so I can be more fully engaged with my family, children, and my faith in God. At first I thought, “I can’t possibly step away from the Internet! If I do, what will happen to this community?!,” But really, that is the wrong way to think.

By God’s grace, this online community was built in 2008. I am in awe of that; that is so cool! Instead of feeling panicky over the what-ifs, I need to lean in. My trust is deeply rooted in the Lord’s will, and I believe He can and will bring me back to writing in this space if that’s what’s best.

One big personal change I’ve made is to wake up early to spend time reading my Bible, early as in way before my children toddle down the hallway, and I am truly in awe of just how refreshing this has been for me as a woman of Faith. Over five years ago, this was all I wanted for my life. I wanted to feel close to God, to know how to read the Word and allow it to refresh me. When another woman and I founded She Reads Truth in 2012, this was my deepest desire. Truly, my deepest desire. When that missional opportunity fell apart for me, I allowed my pain to cause other areas of importance to fall apart, too. Sharing all of this requires me to be hopeful in that you’ll see my heart behind today’s decision to be quiet. However, the hurt I’ve felt over SRT has lead me full circle towards healing. Isn’t that amazing?! I am captivated over how specific and direct God speaks to us.

For quite some time I’ve thought of MANY blog post ideas — topics I know would encourage other creatives / mamas / women, however these ideas truly disappear the moment I open up my computer to write. And for months this felt so frustrating. Why can’t I transfer this thought? Why can’t I expand on this idea? Why am I given this kind of joy? Surely these aren’t things I should keep to myself.

But for this next season, maybe they are? Maybe I need to fill up myself, fill up my children, fill up my household before I can begin to fill up others? (All of these things bring me a lot of joy!) And so, instead of writing to share these things, I’ve been able to grow more deeply in my relationships with my three young children, my husband, and my family because I’m sharing my joy with them first.

Nothing I do, online or offline, will be truly fruitful if I’m not following the plan God has created for me.

And so, I need to pause. I need to be quiet here so I can hear what’s next, and I’ll check back when the time is right.

If you’d like to write to me, please send me an email: maggieATmaggiewhitleyDOTcom. (I’ll be checking my email account infrequently during this time.)

My hope is to return to writing online. My hope is to come back refreshed and confident in what I write. My hope is in the Lord!

And this quote below by Oscar Wilde, isn’t it beautifully encouraging?

All my love, Maggie

PS. Three books I’ve really enjoyed: The Lifegiving Home, The Ministry of Motherhood, and The Mission of Motherhood.

[Oscar Wilde print found here]