Guest Blogger Jennifer Johnson

Hello! Happy August 31st! I’m so glad to be sharing this day with you. I’m Jennifer Johnson. Wife to a great husband—the best, in my humble opinion. Mother to three amazing daughters—one’s leaving the nest for college, another is a busy sophomore in high school, and the third is an active sixth grader. Every day, I teach language arts to 150 seventh grade students at Anderson County Middle School. And, I write two to three books per year.

How do I do it? I have no idea! LOL!!! :)

No, seriously, I do live an eventful life. My guess is you live one as well. So, how does one do it? How does a gal work full-time with all the responsibilities that go into a forty-plus-hour workweek and still find space in her day to conjure up strong heroines who need and yearn to meet Mr. Right? How does a guy take care of his family’s needs and still be able to connect mind to heart to fingertips as he molds the perfect combination of alpha and beta male for his next novel?

It isn’t easy. But, it’s doable. IF it’s what God desires for you.

The truth is, I don’t have the time. Sometimes I look back at what I’ve “accomplished” over the course of a year and I shake my head in confusion over how in the world I was able to get so much stuff done. The number one reason I’m able to take care of my family, work, and write is because of my relationship with God. I don’t mean going to church on Sundays, though we need to hear the Word and bask in the fellowship. I don’t mean saying a quick, “get me through this” prayer, though sometimes we need to be able to do that, too.

I’m talking about the fact that I am absolutely, completely, 100%, ridiculously in love with Abba. He is my life. I will do anything for Him. (Even though I admit that sometimes he nudges me to do things I don’t wish to do, like stop and talk to a perfect stranger about His Son, or He pokes at me to immediately apologize for the stupid, white lie that just slipped from my lips.) Though I may cringe at uncomfortable moments of obedience, I simply cannot take another breath without Him. Without Him, I’m nothing. I can do nothing.

The simple truth is I can juggle so many “things” because my body is wrapped around Him, just as a small child would wrap herself around her daddy’s waist, while He is doing the juggling. In the heart of things, it is that simple.

If you’re overwhelmed, your family is unhappy about the time you spend on the computer, your work ethic at your job is lacking, and all this has been happening for what seems too long, ask Jesus…is this what you want from me? Am I supposed to be writing?

I had a plunge-to-the-bottom moment like that with God approximately six years ago. It was at the annual American Christian Fiction Writers conference (back when it was American Christian Romance Writers). I finally told God, “It’s too much. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t take any more rejections. What do you want from me?”

He told me. His answer—I want you to write.

JoAnne asked me to share how I juggle working and writing, and for months I’ve been trying to think of how to encourage you…maybe give you a list of do’s and don’t’s to help you use your time better. But, as I’ve thought and prayed about this, I’ve realized the juggling is an individual thing, and the best person to tell you how to best manage your responsibilities is the One you should be talking with daily- the Father.

How do I do it? I’m a wife, a mother, a teacher, and a writer. It’s a juggling act, but I’m not the one tossing the pins. That’s how I can do it. Oh Jesus, how I love You!

Watch for Jennifer Johnson's latest book Finding Home releasing to Heartsong Presents in September.