The other day I helped a child write the letter of his first name. I cupped my hand over his and demonstrated how to make a straight line, beginning at the top and going to the bottom, and then adding two bumps. That may not be the technical explanation for a letter B, but he needed to hear it in a way he could understand.

This has been an exciting week for me so far. Last Monday, I let go and submitted my completed manuscript to Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary, who had requested it at the 2009 ACFW conference. Two days ago, I received an email from her concerning that manuscript.

I read her email, and reread it to make sure there wasn’t some mistake. The words slowly sunk in as tears filled my eyes and spilled down my face. I told my friend that it was like holding a teacup over an exploding fire hydrant. I had to pull myself together quickly because I was in the middle of the busiest part of my day. But I grabbed the phone and called one of my closest friends to share what I had read.      

I’m excited to announce…I’m now represented by Rachelle Gardner!!!

We spoke on the phone yesterday about my novel and the direction we are taking. I need to submit some things to her, so she can put together a proposal package. She plans to submit my manuscript to the editor who requested the full at the same conference. Yes, my cup ranneth over at that conference.

One thing that stood out to me in her email was Rachelle’s comment about the two of us partnering together. Working together, we hope to launch my writing career.

But, you know what? I have another partner, too. I didn’t write this book alone. I’m not talking about my terrific writing buddies who encouraged me continually with their prayers and cyber hugs, or my crit partners who helped to improve my story. Yes, they’ve been great! I’m talking about my partnership with God.

Just as I cupped my hand over that small child’s to help him form his letters, God’s hand covered mine as I typed my novel. I’ve prayed and asked Him to fill me with the ink of His Holy Spirit so that my words may be engraved on the hearts of others in a way that reflects His Glory. My prayer came from one of my new favorite verses comes from 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 NIV:

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on the tablets of human hearts. 

How do you react to exciting news? Who is the first person you share it with? What do you do to celebrate?