people Archives - Tricia Goyer

Everyone needs a little encouragement—to been seen, to be appreciated, to be listened to, to be honored with a moment of your time. I mean everyone.

God reminded me of this last week in South Carolina. I was at the Allume conference, and between two sessions I was taking some of my things to my hotel room to drop off. I was passing an open door when the housekeeper called to me. She was a young woman in her 20s with a smile on her face.
She pointed to our hotel room next door. “Excuse me, ma’am, is that your room?”
“Yes.” I lifted an eyebrow.
“Ma’am, were you the one who wrote those books?” she said the last word with reverence.
“Yes, yes I am.”
“Ma’am, do you happen to have an extra one that I could read?”
I knew what books she was talking about. I’d brought a stack of gifts . . . just enough to give to my roommates and to take to my daughter and a few friends in Europe. I was leaving for Europe straight from the conference.
“I’m so sorry,” I told her. “I just have enough for this trip.”
“Oh, that’s OK.” She shrugged. “I understand.”

Everyone needs a little encouragement. Everyone. #encourage @TriciaGoyer

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I walked to my room, and by the time I stepped inside my door the realization of what I’d just said hit me.
“What am I doing?” I told the image of myself in the mirror. God had put a young woman into my life at this moment. She had one simple request, and I had turned her down!
Without hesitating I picked up one of the copies of my novella, A Christmas Gift for Rose. I could mail more books to Leslie later . . . but for some reason I knew I needed to offer this gift.
I went to the open door, and it was my turn to call to her. “Miss,” I called.
She hurried to the door. Another housekeeper followed her.
“I’m so sorry that I said no. I do have this for you. I can mail another book to my daughter.”
She took it, and her eyes grew as large as saucers. She asked me to sign it to her, and then she introduced me to her friend who was working with her. “We love reading,” she told me. “We want to start a book club here at the hotel.” They both smiled wide.
My heart felt happy and full when I headed to the next workshop. It was just a simple thing, but I know that God caused our paths to collide for a reason. The young woman wanted to be seen. She need encouragement. (How many times have I walked past housekeepers without really knowing them? Lots!)

There are people all around us who feel unnoticed. They may be the person sitting alone at the restaurant table next to you, the lady who walks her dog up and down your street, the housekeeper at your hotel, or the man sitting next to you on the airplane.

Are your eyes open for opportunities to encourage others? @TriciaGoyer

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Do you ever remember a time when you felt unnoticed? Think of someone who God brought to reach out to you. Then pray for God to bring someone into your life who you can see and appreciate.
Sometimes the person will call out to you. He or she will ask something from you, and it most likely won’t be on your day’s script. Know that God brought that person to you. What does your God ask of you? To open your hand, your heart.
Sometimes you may need to be the one to reach out. It’s the Holy Spirit within stirring in your heart, asking you to offer a smile and greeting. God gave Himself to you, and He wants you to share. Sometimes it’s sharing in simple ways like offering a book, and other times it’ll require much, much more. But as you reach out and love, God’s love will pour through you, and you’ll be blessed in ways you never expected.

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Lady with notepad — How does real life affect fiction? More than you might think. . . .

My grandfather was the neighbor everyone loved. When he was 82 he’d go around and mow the yards of all the “old people” in his mobile-home park. If he got strawberries from his ten-square-foot garden he’d share them with the neighbors. I’ve learned kindness from him . . . or at least that’s the goal I’m aiming for. And as I write, I’ve been told my care for people comes through.

My father-in-law is a man who listens to God’s voice. If He feels God stirring his heart, he jumps in the car and just GOES. Many, many times I’ve been having a hard, challenging day and he just shows up! I hear the knock or the phone rings, and I know it’s Him. Then He hugs on me and tells me how special I am. He prays with me, and He doesn’t care about anything else. His plans don’t matter in comparison to God’s plans.

I’m trying to be like that. I’m trying to listen and just do what I feel God’s asking. I’m also learning to be brave—to pray with a friend RIGHT THERE. To make the call. To write the words.

How does real life affect fiction? More than you might think. . . . @TriciaGoyer

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Every day I have an agenda of what I’d like to write about. Sometimes God changes that. I feel my heart stirred, and I work according to His desire. It’s amazing what comes out. It’s amazing how many book ideas come from that heeding.

Just as good influences impact my words, the challenging stuff in life does too. In my novels I’ve had numerous characters who have had fathers who have abandoned them. In other novels, my main character is trying to “feel worthy” in his/her father’s eyes. My sister (whom I met in 2006) wept as she read Arms of Deliverance. Yes, the book is a about a B-17 bomber pilot, a Jew trying to hide as an Aryan, and a female war correspondent, but what the book is really about is a young woman who finally meets her biological dad and will do anything to get his attention—even join a B-17 bombing raid over Berlin to get the story that will finally impress him.

Truth comes out in my books’ messages because it tumbles around in my heart first. @TriciaGoyer

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Many people just think my novels are heart-felt stories, but those who really know me see my heart.

Of course, this emotional writing impacts non-fiction too. My book Blue Like Play Dough is a memoir that highlights these emotional moments and uses them to discuss themes in parenting. I tell about the time my new stepdad dropped me off at a birthday party, and only after he drove off did I realize he left me at the wrong place. The story shares how, at five years old, I walked two miles to my aunt’s house. And then I go on to share that as a mom, I too often try to take care of myself. By myself. I have a hard time trusting God. I’m afraid of being left behind.

I’ve had more women come up to me (or calling) in tears after reading Blue Like Play Dough than with any other book. My hurt places touch their hearts. They share their stories. They say they often feel the same.

The danger, of course, is that most of these memories involve real people who are still involved in my life.

Because I write about real people, I discuss these things with them before they go in print. Either that or I don’t send them a copy of the book when it’s done! (Smile.) And the truth is that some of these people would never buy my book. If I didn’t send it to them, they’d never get a copy. Maybe that’s just another way of protecting myself . . . or maybe protecting them from the truth of my heart.

Truth comes out in the messages of my books because it tumbles around for a while in my heart first.

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See Me. Encourage Me.

There are people all around us who feel unnoticed. They may be the person sitting alone at the restaurant table next to you, the lady who walks her dog up and down your street, the housekeeper at your hotel, or the man sitting next to you on the airplane.

People in My Life Affect My Writing