Nathaniel Hawthorne is recognized as one of the great American novelists. However, that is not the way his life began. Most of his early writings were rejected for publication. Once while thinking about his passion to write he said, “I had not lived, but only dreamed about living.”
After college, Hawthorne supported himself through various means, writing only when he had time. One of his jobs was as a surveyor and measurer in a government office. However, when a new political party was elected, he lost his job. He went home dejected and worried, concerned about the effect his job loss would have on his wife.
But instead of finding fault with him, his wife embraced him. She then set a pen and ink before him and exclaimed, “Now you’ll be able to write your novel!” She gave him the encouragement that he needed to go on.
The two little letters "en" mean to put into. That’s what Hawthorne’s wife did for him. She put the courage into him to write by reaching out in love and care when he was confronted with a crisis. A kind word, a pen and a bottle of ink were all that it took to put enough courage into Hawthorne to bring the gifts God gave him to life.
Prayer: Father, may we look around us and find someone, somewhere who needs a word of encouragement. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Scripture for Today: 1 Samuel 30:6 But David found strength in the Lord his God.
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