Emily Freeman is a writer, a listener, and a window-starer-outer. She writes at Chatting at the Sky and takes great delight in creating a place for a woman’s soul to breathe. She is a regular contributor for (in)courage, DaySpring’s online home for women and her first book, Grace for the Good Girl, releases in September. Emily and her husband have three young children and live in North Carolina with their crazy dog, Finn.
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It took me 23 years of living before I realized I didn’t know how. My grace journey happened slow, over time. But I was also fairly intentional in my search for it, pursing and learning and hunting it down. I was certain it was all too good to be true. I just needed proof.
As it turns out, grace found me at the YMCA. It was the summer before The Man proposed, the days before the after. I spent the afternoons at the Y, reading book after book about grace on my lounge chair in the corner. When you immerse yourself in something, you start to see it everywhere, like the time several years later when I wanted to have a baby, suddenly every woman on earth was pregnant. It was the same way with grace that year. Everywhere I looked, there she was.
I watched as a small, even-tanned girl played on the side of the pool in the sun. And her little feet were tucked tight beneath her, just enough to give her something to sit on, but not so much that I couldn’t see her toes. Pink polish, chipped. Her hair was matted so you couldn’t tell if it was curly or straight, but who had time to care? She was too busy playing hand-clap games with her playmate, chanting together their rhyming songs in loud, high-pitched voices. Giggles and splashes and playful teasing framed the scene like a movie. Those girls know how to live, I thought.
And I glanced to my left and saw their mothers sitting on their chairs, dryer than hay. They chatted in their polite, measured ways, managing to dodge the repeated pleas of their girls to come in for a swim. They dared not wet their hair. They had to go to the grocery after.
It hit me hard in that moment, the beauty and freedom of a grace-filled life. We cannot control it, manage it, force it, or tame it. All we can do is enjoy it. Grace holds hands with childlike faith and together they bask in the love of God.
Everywhere I looked, there {grace} was. And it all started, with Emily’s 31 Days of Grace last October. I am so grateful for that push into the deep waters of Grace. Emily is by far one of my favorite blogger writer girls, and I can’t wait to read her book. I found out recently that we grew up about 20 minutes from each other, while I was living at 29lincolnavenue. How fun is that? Do you long for a place to catch your breath? Click here to visit Chatting at the Sky, and be abundantly blessed!
Oh I love Emily. And as always, I love her words. “Grace holds hands with childlike faith…”
Looking forward to your Grace Story here next week Lara!
I so agree when Emily says that whenever you immerse yourself in something it seems like it’s everywhere. I had a year of exploring ‘grace’ last year (continuing this year too) and last year..in October..I discovered Emily’s blog too…I had only been blogging for one and a bit months. Emily has been an inspiration since then..has taught me different facets of grace and her comments section has been an outlet to express my own thoughts. Thanks Emily.
“everywhere i look she is there”… unable to put into words (which is why i live in a sea of photographs!) this grace He lavishes…you do this so beautifully. oh, september is a long time to wait for this former “good girl Pharisee”. can’t wait!
Oh, I love that – I love that you grew up near one another! Emily, I think it’s taken me longer than 23 years to figure out that I don’t know how to live, but it didn’t take me that long to want to. Thanks for so consistently reminding us about the things that enable life in the first place.
Stacey, she looks good here!
That she does Kelly! So glad to see you here today, too!
What is this about growing up near one another??!! Have I forgotten this conversation we had?
I grew up in North Vernon…I believe you said your dad worked at our radio station and that you lived in Columbus??? Please tell me I did not make that up….
OH YEAH!!! Totally remember now. I did forget the conversation because I am a little bit crazy. North Vernon…HA! So awesome.
Emily’s words are a blessing in my everyday. Her book will be a blessing to multitudes. Nice to be here, Stacey– I’ll be back. 🙂
Love Emily’s writing and cannot wait for her book!
My friend @prudychick’s One Word for this year is “Grace” … can’t wait to share this post wit her 🙂
Just beautiful! Love love love the way you write. I can feel your heart and you paint a vivid picture before your readers. Keep writing!
Love,
Traci @ Ordinary Inspirations
Emily’s words aren’t just beautifully chosen and put together, but they mean something – she really knows how to show you you’re not alone and she’s just as scared, broken and wandering as you are – and that’s what makes her grace words so wonderful & NEEDED! Can’t wait for the book!
So sweet that you saw Grace in little girls Living Life! 🙂
i love this, em. i pray that i will not be a mother dryer than hay, but more than that, i pray that i would understand this amazing grace that we get to live in everyday.
Melissa – I love that prayer “I will not be a mother dryer than hay..” What a great word picture!
What a great example of not living, the moms at the edge of the pool, maybe dipping in a toe or two, but definitely not getting their hair wet. I’m that mom, woman, wife, friend, in life more often than I’d like to admit. Thanks, Emily, for illustrating the point so well, and so pithily (I really admire your ability to write with brevity). And Stacey…lovely to meet you here! I’m going to go take a look around…
Michelle so glad you are here today, and please kick off your shoes and stay awhile! For other thoughts on grace, look at the page “Grace Notes” in the menu!
This makes me so excited for your book, Emily!
That’s the thing about Grace. Our paths to finding it vary, but the end result is always the stunning same: Redemption.
Thanks for sharing such good stuff here, Stacey! Sounds like there are plenty of Emily fans around, hey? 🙂 It is good to be reminded to LIVE!
Hi Caroline! Nice to see you friend!!!! And yes, lets live lives all wet with His grace!
My stars, Stacey, all the cool kids come play at your house! Not that this is one bit surprising. YOU are cool and classy and ever encouraging!
I’m thinking it took me longer than 23 years to figure this out. I’m so thankful our God has the patience to stick with us while we get a clue…and loving us always.
Beautiful post!
Kristen you are so fun, thanks for your sweet words! I’m learning that His grace is always right on time. Never too late. Right on time. No matter how long it takes it to sink into our hearts.
“When you immerse yourself in something, you start to see it everywhere.”
Oh how true I am finding that to be with Grace. Immersed, seeing and being forever changed.
I have not been acquainted with Emily before now?! Yours is the second place I’ve seen here mentioned today. I feel like I’ve been missing out on something for sure! She’s now been added to my reader and I’m heading to check into her book.
Thanks Stacey! For sharing these grace stories. For sharing your grace journey. For inviting us to be a part. Thanks…
Adding Emily to your reader is the best idea Donnetta. I know your heart, and you will love reading Emily every day! And the journey is so much better with friends who walk with us. Thanks for walking through grace this year with me!
you two are too sweet. Thanks, Stacey, for letting me speak in your space today!
So beautiful– and so true that is registers in the put of the stomach.
God,
Please remind to live with the chipped nail polish and matted hair.
Emily, Beautiful! I’ve been reading your words for a few months now. I didn’t know you were an NC girl, me too.