It’s not like I’m writing the Bible. {Perspectives on Motherhood and Writing}

Today’s Perspectives on Motherhood and Writing guest is Shannon Coe, another of my fellow Kindred Grace contributors. Her maturity is inspiring and convicting. (Plus, she made me laugh!)

Catch up on previous posts in this series on the Perspectives on Motherhood and Writing archives page!

Why do you write/blog?

I started writing to leave somewhat of a gift to my sons. They didn’t know the full story of the miracle of our family and if I didn’t write it down, it would be lost to them. It kind of morphed into more when my story touched so many lives, in so many different ways. For me, it is a connection to others and a way to share things in my heart that I normally do not express in person.

How long have you been writing/blogging?

I’ve been writing for three years. I wrote anonymously for the first year, then added my name and started sharing my blog with others after that.

How has your current season of life impacted your writing/blogging?

Not the way I thought it would. I have more writing time than I would have had if I wrote when my children were little, but I need so much ‘runway’ time to get flying with words. I don’t know if that’s age or if I have ADHD and never knew it because- children. And I have a hard time with the quiet. I wish I had been gifted with this purpose when my sons were little. I would have enjoyed writing during that time. But God picked this time and I am learning to write in this quieter season. But it’s not all that young mom’s dream of. At least not for me.

How has this season of life changed your writing habits?

I am getting up at 4-5am to get some serious writing done or staying up way late into the night. I think that is what the young moms have to do as well. I gave the years I would have thought to be a perfect season for writing to starting a business. I won’t second guess God on that.

And seasons can be extremely short. Like on the planets that have really short orbits. They don’t necessarily mean years. My seasons are changing quite rapidly. I am adapting by not panicking and by not putting pressure to perform on myself. If writing is a gift, and for heaven’s sake it’s not like I am writing the Bible, then this gift will perfect itself and be used for the Kingdom of God. I won’t trade writing for time with my family. But I will trade it for household chores. That’s fair. :-)

What is your writing/blogging battle cry?

I want women to know their calling is great. They aren’t second in the work for God. They are incredibly strong and they are some of the stealthiest and fiercest warriors on the battlefield. I want to rally the weak and wounded. I would gather all those who don’t fit in and pull them close to me and say, “Let’s go to war, sister.” I want to help them fight for their families and build the Kingdom of God.

How does faith, writing, and motherhood intersect in your daily life?

Oh, such a fascinating thought and question. If we could pull these three things together for women: their faith, words (written or read) and motherhood, you’d have the most threatening warrior for God.

I think of motherhood, and for me, this is what makes me rise up when I want to stay fallen. My faith makes me believe that I need to keep fighting. And my writing needs to help others. I live in battlefield imagery (the consequences of raising four sons?) and when I see these three things come together in a woman, she is pretty powerful and I haven’t met her equal.

Shannon Coe is a speaker and writer who loves to tend to women and care for their spirit. She wants to kneel beside the weary and help them look up to the hills where their Help comes from. She never plans on retiring, and if people will listen and read, she will keep sharing how God can redeem, restore, and use women to do a mighty work for God.

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