Guest Blogger: Donna Cronk / When The Bucket Runs Dry, You Fill It Up Again

Introduction: My good friend Donna Cronk has guest-blogged here before. In this post, she shares about bucket lists and hearing God for her life. Through Donna’s story, we are challenged to walk in faith and work out the good plans that God has for each one of us. Thank you Donna for the reminder that God’s blessings always abound!

When the Bucket Runs Dry, You Fill It Up Again

By Guest Blogger Donna Cronk

Fifty was a cliché for me. I felt old, dated, and wondered about my purpose. Besides that, my feet hurt due to a medical issue and some days, I could barely make it to the office copier.

My husband and I had spent years caring for elderly parents and raising two sons—all at the same time. When I was 50, all of our parents had passed on and the boys were itching to leave the nest and start their adult lives. Where did that leave me, I selfishly wondered. I mourned mightily for their childhoods and teen years.

Then it was an unexpected comment from my husband that inspired me to consider that my life was far from over, that there could be interesting things ahead, and that I might just survive the empty nest after all. He said this: “I can’t think of anyplace I’d rather live after we retire than your hometown of Liberty, Indiana.”

His comment led me to consider what my life might be like if we went home – someday. I thought it would be great to open a bed and breakfast. So I opened one – on paper – with a story that became a bucket-list dream to see it published. In 2014, I released “Sweetland of Liberty Bed & Breakfast” on Amazon, in print and for Kindle, and my bucket list started running over.

For the past 14 months, I’ve given programs to home extension and book clubs, social and service groups, at mother-daughter banquets and to anyone who asks if I would be her speaker. The Lord eased my transition into a new phase of life by giving me a new role and purpose: that of author, that of telling women that they can live their dreams, that they should fill their bucket lists.

And I tell them my new dream of publishing a second book in 2016. Well, that all sounds uplifting and hunky-dory, until I came to … this moment.

Today, I find myself at another transition point. I have nothing (nothing!) book-related on my calendar. Of the thousand business cards I have handed out, of the hundreds of Facebook posts and emails, no one at present has signed me up to speak of bucket lists and fulfilled dreams. So of course I wonder if “the book” is finally over.

And I am struck by the irony. Today, I’m left to step up to my own plate; to live out what I have told hundreds of women to do over the past year and nearly a half: To ask God to show me what’s next; to give me dreams, goals and passions. He may have some new territory for me ahead where I’m able to keep spreading this message. But it could be, this particular message is over.

The Lord may be giving me a time out to seek His next assignment. He may well be asking if I am living my own message of trusting Him in the midst of uncertainty. Do I really believe He has a purpose for me in every season of life?

So I’m listening, Lord. I want to do your will and fulfill your purposes for my life. I’m open to exploring whatever territory you place before me.

 

Psalm 96:1

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Psalm  16:5-6

LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. 

Donna Cronk is a career Indiana newspaper journalist. She blogs about her book projects on a Facebook page called Sweetland of Liberty Bed & Breakfast by Donna Cronk. Her book is available on Amazon. She is married to Brian who is retiring from 40 years in education. That will be another transition for both of them.

 

 

 

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