The Unexpected is Sometimes the Best Blessing of All

As you all know, I usually post book reviews, author interviews, crafts, and other fun children's items; but today I thought I would post what I learned at the three day Christian Home Educators of Ohio Convention I attended as a vendor.



Let me begin by stating that how I expected the convention to turn out was nothing like how it actually turned out. In other words, as the Lord so eloquently tells us in his word, "My ways are not your ways and your ways are not mine."  I left the comfort of my home with the expectation that I would sell a multitude of books and would come home with a pocket full of cash. What I came home with instead was new friend in Christ, and a multitude of blessings brought on by the people I met on my three day journey of discovery.



The first day of the convention brought only two sales, but ever the optimist, I told myself I still had two days to experience glorious dealings with my future fans. The next day wasn't much better sales wise, but I met a young mother and knew when we were done speaking that it was the Lord that brought us together for our mutual benefit and blessing. She was a lovely young woman who asked about my book  but seemingly left much unsaid. The hesitancy in her manner led me to ask her if she was a writer or wanted to be a writer to which she replied yes. As she explained that she had a story to tell and the ability with which to tell it, but had no idea of where to begin as far as publishing was concerned, I longed to give her helpful advice. As her story continued to unfold, I found out that she was a young widow with three children under the age of five and had lost her husband two years previous only a month after her twin daughters were born. I was nearly brought to tears by her story, one familiar to me having lost my first husband when I was thirty-two. As we continued to bond and speak of many things, I began to slowly realize that selling my book was not necessarily the reason the Lord had led me to participate in this convention.



By day three of the convention it became even more clear to me that stellar book sales were definitely not what this convention was going to be all about. Instead, what the Lord blessed me with was a series of incidents that touched my heart in a way that only Holy Spirit induced moments are able. To begin with, a mother who had purchased my book the day before stopped by my booth simply to tell me that she had read the first story and absolutely loved it. I also had three teenagers who had no interest in my book which was a little below their reading level stop by throughout the day simply to spend time chatting with me. Apparently they just enjoyed my company so they kept stopping by my booth. Next I had a dad, who had just purchased my book, become so excited that when another woman walked up he turned to me and said, "Let me try and sell this one for you!" He then preceded to extol what he thought were the tremendous virtues of my book. I stood amazed at the fact that a virtual stranger would be so excited about my book that he would want to share his delight with others.



As the day drew to an end, my last sale of the day was the most unexpected of all. A gentleman approached me and asked the cost of my book. After I told him he placed ten dollars on the table. When I asked him if he would like me to sign the book to anyone in-particular, he said no. He then preceded to tell me that he wanted me to do him a favor. Sure, I agreed, all the time wondering what in the world he could possibly want of me. What he wanted was for me to give the book that he had just purchased to the next child that wanted one. I can honestly say that I was flabbergasted. I thanked him profusely for his kindness as he walked away and I set the book aside.



Several people came and went and I soon forgot about that book. Towards the end of that last day, a father and his daughter who looked to be about eleven stopped by my booth and asked about my book. The father seemed very interested and said he had seven children four of whom were in the appropriate age for reading my book. He told me he had a son that was a semi-reluctant reader and then he took a post card with my information on it and a character magnet and began to walk away. Suddenly the Lord reminded me of that book I had set aside. I said, "Wait a minute sir, the Lord would like to bless you today." I then told him about the man who had purchased my last book and what he had asked of me. "I think this book would be perfect for your family," I added.



This almost brought this tall, handsome father of seven to tears; It almost brought me to tears. I asked him if he would like me to sign the book to any of his children and he said he would like me to sign it to the son he had spoken of. He kept repeating what a blessing he thought my book would be and that he thought it would inspire his son to read. As I watched him walk away, I pondered the events of the day. Sometimes things don't always turn out exactly how we intend them to, but sometimes the unexpected is the best blessing of all.



So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general.Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com