truth-telling

A month ago I ran into a friend as we were both rushing into church from the whipping winter wind. She held the door for me, and I sprinted inside, breathing steam. As we shivered in the entryway, trying to warm up, she said, "Oh! I meant to tell you - I read your book. I liked it!" "And wow, it was really personal." I stumbled through an awkward thank you and mumbled some self-deprecating snark about hope my kids won't sue me for those stories. But as we kept talking and wound our way down the hallway, my stomach slunk a little lower. Because I've heard comments like hers before, and I know what they mean. You're telling stories I'm not used to hearing. You're writing words I'm not used to reading. . . . There are plenty of topics I've written about - in my book or on this blog or elsewhere - that could make people blush. Sex, pregnancy, miscarriage, infertility, depression, death, and grieving. (To say nothing of everyday stories of lost tempers, harsh words, … [Read more...] about the trash tells the story