One of the best results from attending the ACFW conference was making new friends. Today I’m sharing a letter from a talented writer, Jackie Layton. Some of her writing accomplishments include:
2014 Genesis Semifinalist – Romantic Suspense
2014 Daphne du Maurier – Second place Inspirational
2013 Writers of the Storm Category 5 Contest – Second place Romance
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Hi Shelia,
I recently returned from a week at Oak Island, North Carolina. My husband and I love to walk the beach as well as ride bikes through the neighborhoods. I noticed two things. More people fly their American flags as well as North Carolina flags. And people are not as stuffy. I’m not sure why people are more patriotic along the coast. But I have a few theories on why they may be more relaxed.
No matter how much time I spent fixing my hair, the minute I stepped outside either the humidity or the wind ruined it. So why bother? The time I’d save every day by not fixing my hair would increase my relaxation and decrease my stress.
It’s so nice at the beach, I want to go outside and exercise. At home in Kentucky, I often force myself to go outside. There’s always something interesting to see at the beach. A dead shark washed up on the beach. Two fishermen accidently caught a stingray and had to figure out how to get it back into the ocean. Evidently that thing was super heavy. Children build sandcastles, shells crash to shore in the tide, people learn to surf, kites fly high above the sand, and folks speak to strangers as they walk by. The beach is my favorite place to go to recharge, and thankfully God gave me a husband who feels the same way.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest.” As I sit out on a beach and feel the warmth of the sun shine down on my face, I think about the Son of God and how much he loves me. I look out at the humongous ocean, and it’s hard to conceive how Jesus could love me enough to die for my sins. But he did. He died for you and for me so we could spend eternity with him in heaven.
To read more about Jackie, check out her blog at
http://jackiesbackporch.blogspot.com
