Emily Freeman
About the Author

Emily P. Freeman is a writer who creates space for souls to breathe. She is the author of four books, including her most recent release, Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World. She and her husband live in North Carolina with their twin daughters and twinless son.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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Comments

  1. I learn life by writing it down!

    Writing seems like such a luxury, but it has become a necessary luxury. Thank you for validating it. Seriously. Thank you.

  2. It was such a blessing meeting you and sitting at your table for that writing exercise. I write my words down and set them loose like children on the playground. I am blessed everytime Simone says they saw Jesus in those words. That’s all I could ever want.

    • *someone* (not simone- well,if there’s a Simone out there who said that to me, that’d be awesome too!) Auto-correct=FAIL

  3. That time around that table with you, Emily and the other sisters was incredible. A little nerve-wracking to sing my heart in the midst of such incredible writers, but what I took away from those moments was well worth the stepping out. It all goes back to what we heard that first night…as you go about your life doing what you “do” (writing, singing, creating, homemaking)…do you feel God’s pleasure? Blessings, Emily for writing the words that speak grace and truth into the dark places of the soul.

  4. That was one of the fastest 30 minutes of the whole weekend!! My favorite session by far…getting to connect with other women, hearing their words, reading their words…it was a wonderful time of fellowship. More time for this workshop next year! Please?!

  5. Also wanted to say that even though you may have felt like you were flailing through the day like a crazy woman, you didn’t appear to be!!! I know that feeling though!!!

  6. Yes what a great day! Alle, and Kris, I was thinking of you! I had no idea how much I needed that until I had it: Acceptance. Understanding. Affirmation. Since that writing group, I have been able to unleash all the writing creativity I didn’t know I was holding back. It has been an unbelievably fulfilling time, albeit it hard and exhausting…Thank you all, sisters for a great 30 minutes!

  7. Learning life by writing it down – yes, this is so much a part of me! That’s one of the things I love about blogging – finding others who are also learning life by writing it down. It teaches and encourages me so much.

  8. I am not a writer, but rather a sponge of a reader!!! Thank you all for sharing your gifts and opening my heart. And sometimes making me cry.

    My “art” is design and illustration, and it is my favorite way to serve within our church. I’m sharing my art and God’s word with refrigerator magnets this year for Christmas…. (2 Corinthians 5:7) We live by FAITH not by sight.

  9. I love what you wrote here! This is especially true of me – “Sometimes we are afraid of mingling with others who do the same kind of art we do because what if they do theirs better?” Oh my, I live in that fear! I’m my best fan and worst critic it seems. But yet, when we do get our writing “out there” and others read it and are blessed by it…well, that’s an experience like no other because we see God taking His gift and moving it foward out of us and into another’s life.

    So cool.

    • Beth, I feel exactly the same way when it comes to my art. You explained it so perfectly that I didn’t want to try to duplicate what was already so well written.

      I’m soooo ready to let go of that fear and not be so hard on myself, but it’s hard.
      Thanks to this post, I’m actually going to try to move past it so I can let God “move His gift forward.” Because after all, that’s the most important thing.

    • I feel this way, too Jennifer! I have a good friend that encourages me all the time in that area. She is reminding me always to stop automatically thinking that my writing is bad and that nobody will like it. I will keep you in my prayers each time this is an issue for me as well! Hang in there, too. Let God speak through you and it will always be awesome.

  10. I love to cook. Making dishes for people to enjoy is a pleasure for me! Also something I do for others is sign language to music for our special music at church sometimes. Everyone just loves to watch me do it.

    “You learn life by writing it down”–How very very true! The more you write down thoughts & special events the better you will remember & perhaps learn a thing or two!

  11. They learn life by writing it down. I love that. It is exactly what I do, or better said what God does for me. I write. It may take weeks to work through what am writing. But there there is healing and lessons and His love each time I write. I love that He loves and teaches me that way.

  12. I have mentors that are the best sounding boards. Some are miles and miles ahead of me in the game of getting art to pay a bill. Some are right beside me warming the bench, waiting anxiously to get called into the game. And some link arms, and make art with me that we courageously throw out into the world to see what sound it makes when it lands on someone else’s wall. Thanks for reminding me that all art needs to be heard and not just held, collecting dust in my closet.

    • Love the way you wrote this – such vivid imagery!! You have a gift Lolagirl!
      Thanks for sharing it!

  13. Emily, you have no idea how something you said on Chatting at the Sky inspired me. I totally forgot what it was to be creative in the midst of some really hard years. And then I felt guilty for wanting creativity when so many people are hurting. Your words reminded me that God is a creator and He can use creativity to heal, too!

  14. So interesting. I am definitely the person who is afraid to get together with other people who do what I do because I know they are better at it than I am, but than how will I ever improve? I keep reading about all the people who went to the Relevant conference and wonder if I could ever be brave enough to do that…

    • I encourage you to do it, Emily! You will find a close-knit, welcoming group! This was my first year. It was overwhelming for sure! but by the end I felt so much affirmation in my writing craft, and in the relationships I formed, that I would encourage any one to go!

  15. God Bless you for sharing this encouragement today! A portion of what you said really spoke to me—I feel it is God speaking through you to me today.

    “When you find your people, your soul breathes deep.”

    Wow! That is exactly right! Thank you.

  16. I long for what you described. I am just beginning to taste it, as God brings talented Christian writers alongside in the journey. He is faithful to give the alone times as well as the companionship- all in His season.

  17. Oh, this resonated with me, Emily. Such a gift to share those thirty minutes together, with that sweet circle. This is such a tension in my life – the balance of sharing this art and letting things grow quiet and organic. Thanks for all this food for thought.

  18. There are only a handful of people that I know personally who even read my blog. I feel safer knowing that there are those reading whom I will never met. Yet, my heart is falling in love with all of these women and I long to hug there necks one day!

  19. i began my blog for me, never intending to share. i thought it seemed cheaper and more creative than therapy. but through the journey of adopting our 5th child from china and a surprise diagnosis of breast cancer shortly after, God has shown me other plans for my writing. now i do seem to have readers — i still have to gulp at the word followers. i at least have a group of women who write me in personal, private and sometimes public messages…they encourage me. buoy my soul. spur me on. they let me know when they connect. and can i say, i l o v e t h a t!

  20. Because of all you wonderful artists sharing your talent here and in oh so many other places online, I’m inspired to start a blog to share mine soon. I hope to find community like so many of you have! It is a really wonderful thing to see.

  21. “How are you having someone else read your own words back to you in this season of your life?”

    I am sending a custom made card of gratitude each day through the month of November to someone I am grateful for. The list is filled with family & friends of course, but also past teachers, co-workers, someone I need to make amends with, church leaders, etc….

    The power of expressing – daily – how I am grateful for them, and they in return “reading my own words back” is soul-fiber life changing and touching. It’s a full-circle gift. For giver & receiver.

    Thank you for this article! LOVED it!
    Lisa