Girls Write Out
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
It's funny how the things we writers deal with make their way into our books. I'm rewriting an old romance and adding a suspense thread to it. I'd intended for Lucy's issue to be that she likes to fix things. She has trouble letting go of control. Ahem, somewhat like me. Actually, no, a LOT like me! LOL You ever notice how just when you think you've learned something, God shows you that you're not a very good student?

Case in point: A bare month ago I told you all how Diann's illness had shown me that our path is not to happiness in this life but to our eternal home in heaven. That eternity is what it's all about. Ah, I'd arrived. Then BAM. My Dave was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer a couple of weeks ago. I thought about blogging about it last week but I was still too upset to tell you about it.

Now I know the truth is still that our path is towards eternity, not happiness in this life. But I want to fix Dave's cancer. I want to fix Diann's cancer too. I have a real problem letting go and letting God take charge. Maybe because I'm the oldest of four kids and I mother everyone. But I'm a fixer. And it's so difficult for me to take my hands off and say, okay, God, he's yours. I KNOW he is in God's hands. And I know God knows what's best. But that's head knowledge. In my heart, I want to grab back the reins and make it turn out the way I want. We won't know if Dave's cancer has spread until he has surgery April 26. The waiting is killing me! But I need to look and see what God is trying to teach me.

And wouldn't you know it, Lucy is struggling with the same thing. Which is maybe why this book has been so hard for me to write. So prayers would be appreciated for my Dave, for Diann, and for me to rest in knowing God knows what is best.

How about you? What area to you struggle with?

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Colleen Coble  
posted at 9:44 AM  
  Comments (27)
 
 
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27 Comments:
At 11:24 AM, Blogger Hannah Alexander said...

We're still struggling along beside you and Dave, Colleen, and praying that this will go away, that it won't be as bad, that they will GET THEIR STUFF TOGETHER AND GET HIM IN SOONER!!

I'm struggling with the anger you blogged about a few weeks ago--the anger with God because I can't get well no matter how many meds I take. But that, too, will go into a book. Probably today.

 
At 2:16 PM, Blogger Shelley said...

Oh, Colleen. I'm a control freak and I tend to mother everyone, too. But I'm the baby of four, so what's MY excuse? ;) Trust issues, I'm thinking.

I love you and I'm praying for you, Dave, and Diann. Giant hugs to you all.

Shelley

 
At 2:16 PM, Blogger Colleen Coble said...

You're getting there, Cheryl! Hang on!

 
At 2:27 PM, Blogger Diane Marie Shaw said...

Praying for you, Dave and Diann.

 
At 4:13 PM, Blogger Denise Hunter said...

Letting go and letting God is so much easier said than done. :-( I think it's a common struggle. Dave and Diann are in my prayers daily!

 
At 4:24 PM, Blogger Suzanne said...

Oh Colleen, so sorry to hear about your Dave :( Praying for healing and peace.

 
At 5:11 PM, Blogger Diann Hunt said...

I struggle with frustration. So much I want to do and feel like I accomplish so little for my Lord. I guess that's where trust comes in, knowing that God will give me the strength for the things I need to do.

Love you, Colleen and your precious compassionate spirit. The world is a better place because you are in it!

 
At 6:24 PM, Blogger Hannah Alexander said...

Amen to what Diann said!

 
At 6:36 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Colleen: You know our struggle. Now we will come alongside you in prayer for yours and Dave's. Have April 26th marked on our calendar. Sure wish you had a sooner date. We know how very hard the waiting can be. Love you in Jesus....

 
At 7:19 PM, Blogger Christine Long said...

First, praying for you and your family.

I'm a fixer too. I get in trouble all the time trying to fix things I shouldn't be involved with. I struggled with this issue when my dad was diagnosed with cancer. I can't say I completely let go of the need to control, but I am definitely growing in this area.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding fill your heart and mind.

 
At 7:23 PM, Blogger Ronie Kendig said...

I am praying for your Dave and Diann--and YOU!

But...thank you for the honesty here. It really touched a raw spot in my heart. You are such an inspiration, Colleen. Thank you!

 
At 7:29 PM, Blogger Rosslyn Elliott said...

Colleen, my heart goes out to you. It's really hard to deal with even one family member's illness, let alone two. Praying for you and your loved ones.

 
At 7:33 PM, Blogger Pam Sanderlin said...

Praying for you, for Dave, for Diann.

 
At 8:57 PM, Blogger Leanna Ellis said...

Praying for y'all! My dad had aggressive prostate cancer, Colleen. There is so much they can do now. Praying for peace for all of you and for healing.

Blessings,

Leanna

 
At 9:38 PM, Blogger Colleen Coble said...

Thanks so much for the prayers, friends!

 
At 9:40 PM, Blogger jel said...

sending out some flybyhugging to y'all !

 
At 9:51 PM, Blogger Tonya Kappes said...

Oh, Colleen. I'm so sorry. I too know how it is to struggle with giving it all to God. As a mother of four boys and the rock of my house, I have a hard time turning my life over to him and letting him guide my boys and family into the eternity. But when they get to eternity, they better have good manners!!
You are in my prayers along side Diann and her family.

 
At 10:02 PM, Blogger Cara Putman said...

you know we're praying, Colleen. Love both of you!

 
At 10:14 PM, Blogger Kristin said...

Oh, Colleen. Praying. Praying.

 
At 11:49 PM, Blogger Glenda said...

You, Dave and Diann are in my thoughts and prayers.

Glenda

 
At 1:43 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

I'm certainly praying for you and Dave, Colleen. And since when does an "aggressive" cancer patient have to wait for nearly 6 weeks before surgery?? I just don't get it. I'll add timing of surgery to my prayer list.

 
At 8:14 AM, Blogger Sandie said...

So sorry to hear about your husband's cancer. I will keep you all in my prayers as Diann has been already. Control. Yes. Big issue. Letting go and letting God is a difficult thing to master indeed.

 
At 12:23 PM, Blogger Crystal Laine said...

Praying for Dave, Colleen. And for you, too.

Of course, continue to pray for Diann.

Hate cancer. Hate it. And I understand your control issue. I think I have this same lesson over and over, too. Pray about that, too!

And I hate waiting, too! Ugh.

 
At 1:44 PM, Blogger Colleen Coble said...

Thanks for all the prayers, friends! The waiting is hard. :( The reason we have to wait is that they are doing the surgery robotically and have to wait 6 wks for the prostate to heal from the biopsy and shrink so they can see the tissue around it. But he can't get in until 7 1/2 weeks because of scheduling issues. :(

 
At 2:10 PM, Blogger Jackie S. said...

Am praying daily for Colleen, Dave, Diann and Hannah! You are all such an inspiration to me!

 
At 11:00 PM, Blogger Krista Phillips said...

Ahhh, just reading this... SO SO sorry to hear this news! Will be praying for your husband and for you and your family as you go through this with him!

Letting go is something I do daily these days, and even after 8 1/2 months of doing so, it is STILL hard. My Annabelle was born in July with half of a heart... has been through 2 open heart surgeries and almost died many times. She's never come home... is still in the ICU here in Nashville and has been waiting for a heart transplant since January. GOD knows all of this, and I remind him of my 3 kids at home whom I barely see anymore as I take care of Annabelle, I remind him of how absolutely exhausted I am trying to juggle everything and working on top of that, but HE reminds me that HE is still God, that none of this takes him by surprise, and that He loves me still.

So yeah, letting go is never going to be easy. And I don't think it is something I will EVER master completely. I have to make the choice to let go each and every day and give my troubles to Jesus.

Ah, I'm rambling now, but just wanted to say, am praying!!!

 
At 5:37 PM, Blogger Cheryl Wyatt said...

Praying for both of you, Colleen and Dave as well as Diann.

Big hugs!
Cheryl

 

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The Authors
Kristin Billerbeck
Kristin Billerbeck is a proud Californian, wife, mother of four, and connoisseur of the irrelevant. She writes Christian Chick Lit; where she finds need for most of the useless facts lulling about in her head.

www.KristinBillerbeck.com

Colleen Coble

Colleen Coble writes romantic suspense with a strong atmospheric element. A lovable animal of some kind--usually a dog--always populates her novels. She can be bribed with DeBrand mocha truffles.

www.ColleenCoble.com

Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter writes women's fiction and love stories with a strong emotional element. Her husband says he provides her with all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too.

www.DeniseHunterBooks.com

Diann Hunt

Diann Hunt writes romantic comedy and humorous women's fiction. She has been happily married forever, loves her family, chocolate, her friends, chocolate, her dog, and well, chocolate.

www.DiannHunt.com

Hannah Alexander

Cheryl Hodde writes romantic medical suspense under the pen name of Hannah Alexander, using all the input she can get from her husband, Mel, for the medical expertise. For fun she hikes and reads. Out of guilt, she rescues discarded cats. She and Mel are presently taking orders from four pampered strays.

www.HannahAlexander.com

 
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