A Novel Creation www.WatersWords.com

  One Size Fits All   You’ve seen the sign in department stores. One size fits all? Not likely.  Unless of course it’s a stretchy knit cap or a scarf. Maybe a wrap of some sort.  One size rarely fits “all.” Most maybe, but surely not  ALL .   At least that’s what I believed. Then I came across this shirt.  I took a picture of it next to my Bible for comparison. It was advertised as a “one size fits all shirt perfect for travel.” I looked at it in the store and almost laughed out loud. Okay, true confession. I did laugh out loud. But I bought it. Here is a selfie I took of me wearing this shirt.   It is rare we truly find anything where “one size fits all.” And actually, this shirt won’t fit “all.”   Then one day, I was reading in my Bible in the book of Ephesians. The Ephesians were people in a place called Ephesus. The same way I’m known as a Cincinnatian because I live in Cincinnati. I digress.   I’m reading in chapter 4 when it strike...

  C is for Celebrate...Not for Covid   It isn’t every day a woman celebrates her 90 th  birthday. Nine decades of life. Nine/tenths of a century.    My mom, now nine decades young, celebrates  every day . She knows the secret to a happy life.   This past week (on Martin Luther King Day) my mom, Nora, celebrated her ninetieth year of life. She told me long ago she did not want a party.    “A surprise party for a ninety-year-old? Don’t do it!” She told me. “If you choose, you have my permission to give me a tasteful reception when I turn a hundred.”   I pictured the reception at church held for her dear friend, Velda, when she turned a hundred-years-old. Tasteful. I tucked away a plan for the year 2032 in my mind and set about thinking how to recognize mom’s 90 th .   My three daughters and I discussed several ideas. We decided to host a series of small celebrations. Each of my girls would treat G.G. to a small family dinner. We knew ...

  Homework? At My Age?   Did that title say something about HOMEWORK? Yeah, well, the truth is simple. If you don’t fully understand something, you need to do your homework.     We do a quick “google search” to find out how to install closet doors. We find a book to learn what we can about investments. We ask questions of friends and study the Bible.    Purposeful, meaningful homework is not only good… it is necessary.   I’m a teacher so I get it. I’m also a writer. I am working on a suspense novel. I offered it to some beta readers who gave me feedback. I cut and rearranged and kind of watered down some of the story, while I beefed up other parts.    Satisfied, mostly because it was “done,” I sent it off to a publisher.    And waited.   And waited.   The response was actually good. No, they did not want to publish the story as is, but they said they liked my writing. They gave me specific areas I needed to address. They e...

  Hitting the Reset Button   Be… B-E.    That was my word for 2021. All sorts of notions about that word came to life for me. When I announced the word in January, a few friends offered ways the word might play out. One sent me a link to the Beatles song  Let It Be . Others suggested words beginning with those letters such as  be come  or  be cause  and everything “ be twixt and  be tween.”   While I appreciate their efforts, the word was simply “ BE .”    I took things in stride. I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone.  I simply had to  be  the person I am and appreciate the person God created me to BE.   Psalm 46:10 reads “Be still and know that I am God.”   The word served me well this year. I found rest, joy, new friendships, and through it all, a quiet strength I didn’t know I possessed.    Now I face a new year. I’ve been praying over the word that will guide me in this seas...