The tragic friendship between a young girl and an alien was the subject of my first fictional story. It was an elementary school writing assignment that filled me with an excitement I had never felt before.
The idea for that science fiction story just popped into my head. I hadn’t read much sci-fi at the time, but I had recently watched Star Wars and loved it. My go-to reading material back then was horror—especially stories by Stephen King (well, until the mid-1980s, when IT gifted me a brand-new fear of clowns).
I loved my initial idea, but I wasn’t sure if it was good enough to share, so I kept changing it. With each revision, I asked my mom for feedback. She eventually said in exasperation,
“Just write the story, Letha.”
So I did. I sat down with notebook paper and pencil and wrote the story in one sitting. After a few rewrites, a test read to my mom and grandparents, and some edits I felt good about—it was ready for submission.
A bout of the flu delayed me knowing my teacher’s response. Oh, that first agony of waiting! Did she like it? Did she hate it?
When I finally got my story back, I stared in disbelief at the words scrawled across the top:
A++! Excellent Story!
That moment changed me. Writing became more than a basic skill. It became a clue to understanding where I fit in the world.
Looking back now, I see something I didn’t recognize then: God had already placed creativity within me. Scripture reminds us:
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…”
— Ephesians 2:10
— Ephesians 2:10
and
“In the beginning, God created…”
— Genesis 1:1
— Genesis 1:1
The first thing we learn about God is that He creates — and we are made in His image. No wonder creating awakens something inside us.
I wonder what my younger storytelling self would’ve said if you told her it would take over 40 years for that spark to return.
In the decades since that first story, I pitched countless new ones to my mom. Each idea changed—sometimes multiple times. I jumped between genres: sci-fi, drama, action, romance, mystery. It didn’t matter. Those words — Just write the story — were her encouragement during every creative detour. She even said them in one of our last conversations before she passed in 2019. I carry them with me now, like a quiet blessing over every blank page.
So here I am. After too many years of chasing the “perfect” idea, I’m finally following my mother’s advice and God’s gentle nudge. I’ve carved out this little space on the Internet to share my inspirational stories and other creative ventures. I don’t know all the turns this journey will take, but I’m committed to creating and sharing as freely as I can — not perfectly, but faithfully.
Maybe you’re like me and have waited too long to begin. Maybe fear, comparison, or perfectionism has held you back. But Scripture reminds us:
“Do not despise these small beginnings…”
— Zechariah 4:10
— Zechariah 4:10
and
“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:31
— 1 Corinthians 10:31
If you’re a fellow creative — whether you write, paint, craft, compose, or dream — I hope this heart note lights something within you. Because maybe, just maybe, you needed the reminder I did:
Do it now. Don’t wait. Just create — with Him, through Him, and for His glory.
Reflect: What fears or expectations have kept you from beginning (or returning) to create something?
Share: Who could you encourage today by sharing your story, your work, or even this heart note?
Suggested Bible Study: Genesis 1:1, Zechariah 4:10, Exodus 31 and 35
Remember: Your ideas don’t need to be perfect to be purposeful.
Author’s note: Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), which is in the public domain.
**Featured Image: In the Clouds created by Letha Lynea**
© 2026 Imago Joy Studio All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction strictly prohibited. For licensing inquiries, please contact info@imagojoy.com.
Want to Go a Little Deeper?
I've created free Heart Note Reflection pages in PDF for you to use alongside each Heart Note or when you study Scripture.
How to Use the Heart Note Reflection Pages
You’ll be taken to Gumroad to complete the free download.
Once you download the pages, you may choose to:
- Print the pages as you read a Heart Note or study Scripture
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There's no right or wrong way--simply use the pages as a quiet space to pause, reflect, and listen for what God is placing on your heart.
