by Alycia W. Morales @AlyciaMorales

Around nine years ago, I had a midlife crisis. It wasn’t big. It wasn’t drawn out. I didn’t go into a deep depression and want to hide in my bed. It was more like a blip on the radar of my life.

I’d been serving and doing things for my husband, my kids, and the church for the past ten years. One day, it hit me that I had given up a lot of my dreams to fulfill my role as wife, mother, and member of the body of Christ. And I could no longer live with that.

The Parable of the Talents

See, God had been speaking to me about Matthew 25:14-30, also known as “The Parable of the Talents,” and I realized I had talents that had been shelved for many, many years – even prior to my marriage. And I could no longer leave them on the shelf.

I suddenly had a desire to pick up the pen and write again.

I’d grown up penning teenage angst poetry, keeping a journal (my first one had a lock and key and Garfield was on the front), and loving writing essays for school and college. I read voraciously (still do). And I wanted to do what I knew God was calling me to do.

So I started a blog, attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference to find out more about writing for a Christian market and writing as a profession, and set to work.

Other Priorities Got in the Way

Then I started editing. And that became a career in and of itself. Which took priority over my writing just a bit. We have bills to pay, you know…

My kids grew into their teenage years. No one tells you when you’re busy changing diapers and potty training and chasing toddlers around the house and cleaning up spills and messes that teenagers take up just as much, if not more time, than the toddlers. And so life continues to get in the way of my writing.

Keeping the Dream Alive

But I’m not letting it anymore. Because I refuse to let the writing dream die.

Keeping dreams alive is not easy. Especially when we have families and day jobs and bills to pay and … I’m sure you have your own list.

Make the Time to Pursue the Dream

I make it a priority to spend time with the Lord every morning. Granted, there are busy mornings where that time is sucked away. But I do my best to meet with my Father before I start the business of the day. Writing is also a priority that I find I need to schedule into my day. I also have to protect that time.

One way to look at it is to see writing as a form of worship. It’s taking the talent God has given us and creating with Him. And so setting aside that time is setting aside more time to spend with Him.

Listen to Your Heart and God’s Whispers

Sometimes we’re called to lay down a dream for a season. Some of us homeschool (not me, though). Others of us may have a major setback and have to take a day job until we can get ahead. Or we become caretakers for our spouses or parents or special needs children.

When the Lord walks us into a season in life where we have to lay our writing as a profession aside, we shouldn’t argue or fight against His will. Take the season to rest from pursuing the dream. Just remember to pick it back up again when He says it’s time.

Become a Hobby Writer

Another option may be to pursue writing as a hobby instead of a full-time job. We all make time to do the things we love as a way to unwind. Some of us go hiking. Take pictures. Watch TV. Read. Crochet or knit. Color. Tinker in the garage. Play video games. When life is overwhelming, allow yourself the time to do what needs to be done during the day, and spend your hobby time writing.

We don’t have to let life keep us so busy we can’t find the time or the will to write. I pray you’ve found some freedom to be creative despite life’s challenges as you’ve read this post.

What’s one way you keep your writing dream alive? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Alycia Morales is a freelance editor and writer. Her writing has been in Thriving Family magazine, Splickety Love, and several compilation books. Her editing clients have won several awards for their manuscripts, including finalist in the Selah Award. Her first ghostwriting project, The Spirit of Hospitality by Larry Stuart, releases in December 2018.

She is also the conference manager and the blog editor for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

When she isn’t busy hanging out with her writing friends, her husband, and her four children, Alycia enjoys reading, watching TV, hiking, and crafting.

Follow Alycia at her blogs, Life.Inspired. and The Write Editing. She can also be found on Instagram and Pinterest.