Uphill Battles with Frayed Steps

Are You Facing Any?

As I dragged myself up the rope ladder, using every bit of strength I could muster with my weak arms, I kept craning my neck to see my two daughters coming up behind me. I’m sure they must have put me first because I was the oldest & weakest, and I could use their encouragement cheering me on to the top—way up there yet.

I’m too old for this, I kept thinking.

“The next rung is ripped! Watch out!”

Watch for frayed steps!

I almost lost my grip when my foot slipped, but I kept pulling myself up as if reaching the top was a necessity. It must have been an essential task because . . .

Going back down was not an option.

Another rung was detached & hanging, but I saw it in advance and skipped to the next one up. The girls kept pushing me along, and I made it to the top, but now the obstacle was even worse, and I began to cry.

I can’t do this!

My girls revealed only a little concern through their very firm instructions on what I needed to do to conquer this last step. I had to heave myself over what appeared to be a half door sticking straight up from the top of the ladder. Grabbing hold and pulling myself to the point where I could bend the top half of my body over with no tilt for traction meant I could use only my upper body strength, and I didn’t think I had any left.

But with screams of determination, I did it.

I hung there for a second, and then I swung my legs and fell over the rest of the way.

Now for my daughters to join me. It should be easier for them.

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This was a vivid dream that woke me this morning right about at sunrise when I was still groggy enough to wonder if it were real—something I had just recently accomplished or something my subconscious just drummed up.

Once I realized it was a dream, I lay there pondering why my daughters were following me in this uphill battle.

And what battle was it the dream represented?

Monday’s got me thinking. . .

I’m so excited for the opportunities to talk about my book, like this weekend at “Author’s Alley,” an author fair sponsored by a local bookstore. Authentic conversations with people that felt like genuine connections. This is not an uphill battle. This is easy & natural.

The battle is to resist temptation to question, why aren’t all of those conversations translating to sales or reviews?

Resist chasing numbers & graphs.

Resist disappointment that a few patrons at the author fair said they were downloading the digital copy immediately but didn’t.

Resist making this simply about selling books instead of reaching people’s souls.

My foot slips on a torn rung once in a while, but I am still climbing.

Perhaps my daughters are inspiring me to keep going. Maybe that’s why they were there in my dream.

How do you apply this dream to yourself? Climbing any uphill battles?

In case you have read ➡️🔗 My Father’s Daughter already, you know that it’s not just a personal story for me.

You know it is meant to reach down deep in your soul and inspire hope & restoration.

If so, would you take a couple minutes and ➡️🔗 write a review?

If you have not yet read it, try the sample on Amazon; it’s the first 10 pages. 😊

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