Be Patient, Petunia!

Since part of the original purpose of this blog was to tell the progress of my book, I thought it was high time I gave a quick update. My book is finishing up month 3 of production, with 3 more months to go. That means it's half-way done! I have officially finished the editing phase and will be entering illustration, layout and design. Actually, as I am writing this blog I just received my "Welcome to Illustration" email from Tate! This part is the one that I am most nervous and excited about, since I will finally have a "face" for my story. Since I am definitely not an illustrator, I am thankful that Tate Publishing has their own team of illustrators and that this is just one of the normal parts of children's book production for them. They are experts at this, so I believe I am in good hands! For now, all I can offer is the official title of the book and the backmatter/teaser of the book for a taste of what's to come! Here goes:

Be Patient, Petunia by Erin Butler

"Petunia is caring and kind, but very impatient! Nothing goes the way Petunia wants it to because she doesn’t like to wait. With fun rhyming and a memorable character, this delightful story illustrates one of the fruits of the spirit: patience. Discover how good things come to those who patiently wait in Be Patient, Petunia!"

Fun, huh?! As I go through this process, which is a totally new world for me, I am continually reminded of God's goodness and grace. I give Him all the credit for everything in my life, and I want this effort to be something that brings glory and thanksgiving to Him as well. It's too easy to take what we have--whether resources or opportunities or relationships or whatever--and keep them for ourselves, moving forward in our own effort to make something that would be self-serving. After all, these are the values of our culture--glory and success and comfort for ourselves no matter the cost; the whole "me, myself, and I" syndrome as I like to call it. It's hard to not think like that. And I'm not trying to say it's bad to have high goals and strive for success, but ultimately, if we are doing it just for our own selves then what does it amount to? We need to measure "success" through the eyes of our Creator, our Father who loves us unconditionally and knows what is best for us. When we are walking with Him, loving Him and loving others (the greatest commandments according to Jesus), then our life couldn't be more successful. And then, if we give Him back everything we've been given--people, resources, opportunities, and so on--then He can do immeasurably more with them than we could even ask or imagine. That's what I desire! So instead of asking myself, "What do I want?" I've tried to start asking, "Lord, what do you want for me? What do you want me to do with all you've given me?" It's quite liberating, really.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you are encouraged today!