A few months ago, I was presented with an opportunity to attend the Colorado Medieval Festival as a vendor. It would have been great publicity for my books. (Not to mention that I love anything medieval.) However, the event spanned three days, including Sunday. Now, for me, working on Sunday has always been something that I avoid, because of the Lord’s commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy. I didn’t feel right doing it. I wrestled with this decision for weeks. Do I attend, or do I not? I really wanted to, and I felt that if I declined that I would be burning this bridge for good.
Finally, halfway through our family vacation to Legoland, I decided to write the dreaded e-mail.
Dear Kitty Wild,
Thank you so much for opening a spot for me at the Medieval Festival this year. I am truly honored, and excited, and ready to get out!
However, I have not been able to sign the agreement because I cannot commit to being there on Sunday for religious reasons.
If possible, I would still love to attend, but I understand why you have clarified in bold on the vendor agreement form that all vendors are required to be there all three days. Making an exception for one opens doors for others wanting the same exceptions.
I regret to say that I am unable to sign the vendor agreement at this time. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
I truly wish you a fantastic event for all attending.
And that was it. I was done for good and closed the door. I went on with life, although still feeling very sad and discouraged in the back of my mind for missing out.
A month later, as I was at the gym, I had a missed phone call. It was Kitty Wild! She left me a message saying that she wanted to speak with me. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest, it hurt. I didn’t want to hope, but she had called me for a reason. So, I called her back.
I can only say that it was through her and the love of my Heavenly Father that I was allowed to attend AND not work on Sunday! Not only that, but there is more happening at the fair and Kitty was eager for me to be a part of it. She wants to open an entire library section at the fair and invite a bunch of other authors to attend. I think it’s brilliant! Even though it would be more competition for me, reading is too important to squabble over. As long as a child opens a book, I am happy. I don’t care whose book it is.
Overall, I did what I thought was right, and stood up for myself and for God, and even through it was hard and I thought all was lost, it wasn’t.
God may not answer your prayers and wishes in the way you want or expect, but this time He did. I feel so blessed and good about myself for standing up for what I believe in. I also feel exceptionally blessed to know Kitty and how she stands up for what she thinks is right and good in the world.
