I wrote my second book late last year and earlier this year, doing multiple rounds of my own edits, then having my editor read behind me, making additional edits and formatting it in a lovely way.
Then I did another read through to make sure all was well.
Writing this book wasn’t difficult. God gave me the ideas and words for the devotionals. He laid the idea on my heart of incorporating breath prayer as part of this book. My book cover designer created what I’d envisioned.
Yes, all was lining up… except for the acknowledgements.
Most of the people listed in my acknowledgements are friends who have encouraged me in my writing, girlfriends who think I have a knack for it and who kept prodding me to write a second devotional book. My children and grandchildren are in there, because they, too, encourage me and are my legacy. I even listed people who have gone on to the heavenly realm but who encouraged my writing, especially my late husband and his maternal grandmother, our beloved Meme.
But there were two people whom I struggled with acknowledging, but felt it important to include them: One whom I thought was the other great love of my life (and that’s how I acknowledged him) and who now has me questioning every aspect of our very long, once beautiful and special then bland and somewhat toxic relationship. The other? The nicest man I’d ever met besides my late husband and who made my heart sing earlier this year when I was pretty broken. He brought my spirit back to life, prayed for me, and brought me so much joy.
And I struggled to find words that conveyed what both men meant in my life and in writing this book.
And now I can’t change anything because the book is with the publisher.
So, the acknowledgements are there, for both of these men.
And they were the most difficult lines to write in the entire book. Not the devotions. Not the breath prayers. Not the introduction.
Nope… the acknowledgements.
My book will soon be available to order. I hope, if you read it, that it will get you excited about the coming of the Messiah and what that means in your life.
Feel free to read the acknowledgements.
Amy Walton is a single (widowed) woman whose life was deconstructed in a major way earlier this year. With a great trauma therapist, a wonderful group of trusted family and friends who love and hold space for her, and a supportive faith community, she’s looking up and moving up and is excited (and maybe just a little scared) about what the future holds. Connect with her at amywaltoncoaching@gmail.com.