WIP

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

Silence.

It really is golden.

At least it seems that way to me in this moment. Tonight, I’m sitting in my parent’s living room, forty-five miles away from the usual noise of my very chaotic and everyday life. My dad has vacated to an upstairs bedroom where he’s watching the All-Star game. Mom and me?

Well, we’re where we usually are … in our recliners downstairs, channel surfing for a good movie to entertain us when the nine o’clock hour arrives. Slim pickin’s, I’m afraid. Thus, we’ve settled in for more of what we’ve been doing for most of the afternoon…

editing my WIP (that’s writer lingo for “work in progress”).

There’s no better editor, friends, and the price is right. I’m pretty sure my mother’s been dotting her “i’s” and crossing her “t’s” from the womb. Nothing slips past her grammatical eye; at least I hope it doesn’t. Not this time. This time, I need it to count. This time, I need her critical input because I want my “work in progress” to be its best. To read its best. To put its best “words” forward in order to point others back the Word … Jesus Christ.

Mother is well-suited for the job. She’s been editing my life for the past forty-three years, always keeping my “sentences” in check and watching out for my “danglings” in whatever form they may come (I know, mom, it’s not a word, but it seems to fit with the flow of things … please forgive).

She’s been my critical eye because, quite honestly, I’ve needed her to be. She’s not intrusive; far from it. She’s simply available for the edit. She wants my life to read its best and for me to put my best “words” forward in order to point others back to the Word.

Isn’t that a worthy calling? A high and noble calling, not just for a mother but for all of us? To always be in the process of a life’s edit so as to “read” at level best, pointing others back to the person of Jesus Christ?

Most assuredly, we won’t “catch” everything. Even the best manuscripts boast an occasional typo or two or dozen that slip past the scrutiny of an expert editor like my mother. Typos are part of our humanity, reminding us that full perfection lies just out of reach and on the other side of a final edit. But does that mean we shouldn’t try? That we shouldn’t allow our words and our lives some raw exposure before a few trusted people and allow them a critical eye in the process of our becoming?

Our “becoming” was designed with corporate input in mind, for the back and forth editing of each other’s lives. Never as a tool for diminishing a life’s worth, but as an instrument for moving that life toward a better perfection. A better read. A better WIP, filled with words and plots and intrigue that catches the attention and interest of the reader and points him/her back to Jesus.

I want an edited life friends. Average and adequate no longer interest me. I’m after better. In fact, I’d settle for a best-seller. My book may never make that list, but in the end, the book is just extra. What matters to me is my life, and I’m counting on it “reading” better in a week’s time than how it reads today.

To get there, I choose exposure.

To my mom and my dad. To my husband and my children. To my church and my community. To strangers and friends alike. To God, the Spirit and the Son. To everyone and to each situation, I offer my life for the edit.

I may not always willingly receive the revisions, but by God’s grace and with his help, I endeavor to grow with the process. To be a WIP, opened for the reading and, hopefully, with words enough to point others back Jesus.

He is the Author and Perfecter, the Finisher of my manuscript. Even so, come and write my life this night, Lord Jesus. Thus, I pray…

For a mother who edits, I thank you, Lord. For a Father who edits, all the more! I don’t know the final plans you have for my current WIP, but I am forever grateful for the end you have planned for my life. Write me and revise me according to that end, not mine. Give me the wisdom to bend to your pen and the humility to bow to your correction. I want to be your best read. I want my life to point others back to you. Edit me for kingdom purposes, and keep me ever mindful of the privilege I hold in having you as my Publisher. Amen.

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33 Responses to WIP

  1. Amen, Elaine…I seek an edited life, too!

    Enjoy your visit at your parent's home. Get some rest, friend!

    Love,
    Beth

  2. You are the 'pen' in the Author's hand my friend. His words from His heart bring His peace.

    Your life already is a best read, with wonderful chapters still to be written.
    Hugs,
    Joy

  3. Love this Elaine! My Mom's been editting my work as well since junior high (sometimes even typing it too)!

    Your words below really hit home for me tonight:

    "What matters to me is my life, and I’m counting on it “reading” better in a week’s time than how it reads today.

    To get there, I choose exposure."

    That last line is a whole 'nother post in the waiting!

    xoxo
    Shane

  4. You have been blessed with a gift for words…I couldn't have said it better myself. I am so glad I found your blog, for you inspire me to be a better me for Jesus. thanks!

  5. Oh Elaine this was so cool! Looking at our lives as manuscripts and our Father as the author, editor, reviser, and publisher. What a great analogy!
    thanks for letting God write this through you today! It ministered to me alot!
    Christy

  6. What a beautiful sharing. I'm praying for your WIP right now. I can't wait!

    I want my life to be offered for the better, for the edit, into HIS hands, willingly molded and humbly opened.

  7. Yes, Lord… I agree with Elaine's prayer and ask those same things for my life!

  8. What a thought….. an edited life.. Great words Elaine…. We all need the hand of the Father involved in our lives……

    Glad you are having a nice visit with parents……

  9. Beautifully articulated Elaine. What a blessing and a relief to know that God is not a careless editor. He does not add or subtract from our story based on whim. He brings only those things into our lives that are necessary for the story He has written for us. May we be quick to receive His editing for our lives and may we never forget that it comes to us from His own hand.

    With gospel affection,
    Lori

  10. The best editors, Mom included, this side of heaven correct the grammar but don't change the voice.

    Heaven-side, well, our life and our voices do change! I too, want an edited life.

    Shalom,
    Denise

  11. Oooo, I like that: offering one's life for the edit. It has the ring of authenticity to it. It's the sum of the wisdom of many counselors, and the permission to allow others to see and speak of one's life-testimony – downside as well as upside.

    I like your word-smithing, too. I'm all about coining new phrases or terms. It keeps everything fresh!

    Dangling with ya',
    Kathleen

  12. wifeforthejourney:

    It is a blessing to be a man with no "mother-in-law stories" to tell. I suppose other families have to tough it out, but as for me, I am so pleased to have a share in life with your mom and dad.

    All of us need someone in our lives who can give us an honest critique. However, its rare to find to have someone like your mom who can point out your faults and leave you wanting to say "Thank you."

    Thanks be to God for the gift of His grace that comes to us through our families. Even though the kids and I miss you, we're praying for you and your "sharpening" today!

    Love,
    Billy

  13. Amen and amen!! Tell your precious Mom and Dad that I said "hey!" I've been praying you through this and will continue to do so–it's a privilege.

    "To be a WIP, opened for the reading and, hopefully, with words enough to point others back Jesus."

    I too want to be a WIP!! Thanks for being my editor as well!

    Love you!
    Susan

    ***You should get a CD in the mail TODAY–call me or have Billy call if we need a redo asap!! 🙂

  14. Who to edit my own life, with the kind of love a mother should have, and that place to offer the edits. I would be lying if I said I was not just a little jealous, but really jealous of that kind of mother daughter relationship. But I know the plans He has for me, and I am blessed that I can give to my daughter what your mother gives to you. Wonderful to share the WIP's of life.

  15. Oh, Elaine. This is so profound and incredibly insightful. I SO want the edited life. (I'm tweeting this, by the way!)

  16. Oh, how precious to my heart was this postt, Elaine!

    You said: "I choose exposure.
    To my mom and my dad. To my husband and my children. To my church and my community. To strangers and friends alike. To God, the Spirit and the Son. To everyone and to each situation, I offer my life for the edit."

    That last line really spoke to me… I offer my life for the edit!

    God is the only author and perfecter and finisher of our [manuscript] faith!

    I need to spend time with God pondering this for a long time – all of it!

    Choosing JOY,
    Stephanie

  17. Hold on to that editor! She's doing a great job.

    I am a WIP.

    And like the children's song says, "He's still working on me."

    Proofreading. Refining. Deleting.

    But He gets His children to where He wants us to be.

    Pointing others to Him.

  18. I don't know what else to say except I love your blog! It always challenges me to look at my life more carefully. You're a blessing!I hope your enjoyed your visit with your parents.

  19. Hi Mrs. Elaine:)

    That's cool that your mom is a person you respect and go to for her opinion and editing:) Pointing others to Jesus is what matters the most…and your heart wants to seek after Him and His approval, I can tell:)

    Love in HIM, Blessings to you today, ((HUGS!)),

    katiegfromtennessee

  20. Love the analogy of an edited life. May I throw off the sin that so easily entangles and fix my eyes not on the seen but on the unseen, on Jesus, the Author and Perfector–and Editor–of my faith!

    And may the Lord's purposes be accomplished in your pen-and-paper WIP!

  21. Praise the Lord Elaine! The blessing of having godly parents I never knew so cherish them in every way as I know you do.

    I loved where you said: "Isn’t that a worthy calling? A high and noble calling, not just for a mother but for all of us? To always be in the process of a life’s edit so as to “read” at level best, pointing others back to the person of Jesus Christ?"

  22. I had no awareness whatsoever of how much I would miss my parents, their home and their input in my life. What beautiful thoughts you've written in this post.

    And anytime you want to, you can come sit on my backporch or in my recliner! 🙂

  23. Elaine, What a beautiful thought, that we are all WIPs. I loved this:

    "Come and write my life this night, Lord Jesus."

    God has gifted you, friend. I pray now that your words will reach far and wide, so you can minister to even more women, as you have done here at Peace for the Journey.

  24. This was great Elaine.

    Praying God will honor your humility as you submit your WIP to Him.

    What a perfect analogy♥

  25. You "read" real good. Your life, your words, your heart. God has given you such a gift and I am blessed, inspired and challenged every time I read you. What a privilege and joy it must be to have the Lord speak His Truth through you.

    I'm with you. I was just thinking today in my devotion time that there is nothing I want more (-nothing!) than for people to know my Jesus…

  26. How blessed you are, Elaine! What a gift to have such an editor in your mom.

    I will be praying for that WIP, friend!

  27. I love what you said about us all having "typos" in our life and how it just shows that we're not a "finished product" just yet!

    My daughter still has me proof read some of her things from time to time. Makes me so proud that she shares her writings with me! I know your Mama is proud of her girl also!

    God bless you!

    Marilyn

  28. Elaine I love that. We are all a WIP when we stop and think about it! I know your mother and you had a wonderful time of "editing"…together.

    I've not thought this before reading this post, but I suppose there have been "many" editors in my life over the years. I am thankful for the editing of the LORD!

    I really enjoyed this! I hate that I've not been as frequent a visitor as I have been, but it seems that life (and hormones) is crashing down around….and the sweat just pools.

    Love you girl! You are such an inspiration to me!

  29. I relate to every word of your post. Well done, good and faithful servant.

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