Whoa. It was Friday at 5 o’clock in the morning. The sun wasn’t even blinking her droopy eyes yet.
I had spent another long night rotating like a weenie on a spit in my tousled bed (this is not a new thing) and doing what I often do in the sleepless hours of darkness before dawn: planning menus and grocery lists, reviewing the things I should have done yesterday but didn’t, hatching ideas for a future new book that may never happen, and imagining different endings for the murder mystery I just finished reading.
You know, the usual really important stuff people do when they can’t sleep.
As my restlessness hit boiling point, I got up and parked my derriere in my computer chair to check my email. I hadn’t looked at incoming messages since the previous afternoon.
To my surprise, I saw two messages in my inbox from the national writer’s conference which several months ago had named my new devo, Bless Your Heart, as a finalist for the coveted Selah Book Award. I thought the ritzy award ceremony was that night (Friday night), which is what I’d marked on my calendar. I couldn’t attend, as it was several states away, so I was planning to watch it live stream. It pretty much felt like a moot point, though, since I haven’t won a Selah Book Award in twelve years, since Fear, Faith, and a Fistful of Chocolate won in the Inspiration & Gift category. My chances this year seemed slim to none since there are LOTS of wonderful devotionals in contention.
So in the wee hours of predawn, I groggily clicked on the first message and a gold seal popped up. No, not the slippery black sea animal that barks like a dog and balances a ball on its nose; it was the kind of fancy stationery seal a queen might use to close a letter. With no accompanying explanation, the lonely seal just sat there on my computer screen, proclaiming in embossed gold letters, “2026 Selah Winner.” Confusion. Wait a second … my Nancy Drew instincts kicked in to try and solve the mystery. The email was sent at 9:35 pm on Thursday night, a good twenty-four hours before the Award Ceremony was to take place and the winners announced. So how could this be anything more than an unfortunate clerical mistake?
I was jarred a little more awake but a lot of nothingness still registered in my soggy brain. I made myself a hot cup of caffeine. Could this be someone’s idea of a cruel joke?
I scoured the rest of the email for some sort of an explanation. Nada.
Then I noticed the second email from the same organization and clicked on it, hoping that someone somewhere would make sense of this. But whadayaknow … it was another gold seal, emblazed with the simple words, “Selah Book of the Year 2026.” Nothing else. No other clarification.
WHAT???!!!??? Are you ever-lovin’ KIDDING me????!!? I was surely awake by now!
I was afraid to get too excited, figuring it had to be a mistake of mega magnitude but knowing it was too early in the morning to find anyone else awake and ready to answer my questions. So I squirmed on sharp pins and hot needles for the next three hours until a kind soul on the other end of the computer terminal finally woke up and confirmed that: 1) The award ceremony was on Thursday night instead of Friday night (I’d written it down wrong) and 2) Bless Your Heart had indeed won first place in the Devotional category, and then by a miracle from the gracious fingertips of Almighty God, been named nonfiction Book of the Year (there was also one for fiction and one for children’s books to cover all genres).
Oh. My. Goodness.
I never.
Never.
My heart felt like it would explode right out of my chest. I couldn’t stop the happy tears all day. What a sloppy emotional mess I was. Am. Someone took one look at my face at my morning exercise class and asked if I was all red and puffy from allergies. Um … something like that, I replied.
I couldn’t bring myself to say the words out loud, but I’m telling you, my dear, loyal, longsuffering BFF, because you understand all we’ve gone through together to get here – I can’t thank you enough for all your support – and I know you’ll praise Papa God right alongside me for my amazing news and HERE IT IS:
Bless Your Heart is a Selah Book Award BOOK OF THE YEAR!!!!!
WooHOOO! Can you believe it? I still can’t. But I’m giving Papa God all the glory, all the tears, and a bucketful of unsolicited snot in gratitude!
Tell me, my friend, when has your heavenly Father surprised you with a blessing so rich you felt that your heart might explode? Please do take a moment to comment below … your community of BFFs wants to hear from you and I do too!
HUGS! Love, Deb
So happy for you!
I love the book! You deserve it!
Congratulations !
Awww, thanks Sue. I miss you, my sweet friend!
That’s AWESOME, Debbie! It’s wonderful to see your talent and hard work rewarded in this grand way. Congratulations to you!!
I appreciate that, Karen. You’re right – writing is harder work than most people realize. Bless Your Heart was one of the hardest ever for me, personally, because I thought Papa God was prompting me to hang up my typewriter after the rough Covid-loss years when I couldn’t find my Jesus-joy again and because 365-day devos are bears anyway. I tried my durndest to talk the publisher into letting me do a 60-day or 90-day devo but he was deadset on a 365-day, so it was all or nothing. Took me so long to write – and then rewrite – I almost threw in the towel a couple of times. But when I hear such sweet feedback from BFFs like you, I know it was worth all the blood, sweat, and ink smears. Hugs!
Congratulations my sweet friend! It’s well deserved!
Thank you, Judie. I miss hearing from you and your “looking for the funny” stories. Pausing right now to pray for you and your sweet family.
Oh my goodness! I am so happy for you but am not surprised because of all your hard work and devotion to sharing God’s Good News in your devotional. Congratulations!
Peggy, I wasn’t just surprised, I was STUNNED. I’m still not able to wrap my head around the Book of the Year thing – I’ve never received an award that … well, GRAND, before. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with my hands. Ha! Love you, girlfriend.
What a wonderful middle-of-the-night surprise! Congratulations! !! Lovely book, and a very special, very caring and thoughtful author. Thank you, Lord, for both.
Thank you, Diane – you’re the one who’s caring and thoughtful, my friend! I’m glad Bless Your Heart is blessing your heart in a tangible way. A BIG hug coming your way!
Congratulations on your book of the year!! I am blessed each morning by it. May you continue to receive unexpected blessings!!?
What a sweet thing to say, Karleen! I’m honored to share morning devo times with you, dear BFF (Blessed Friend Forever). I’m pausing right now and lifting you up in prayer that Papa God will bowl you over with an unexpected blessing today. Hugs!
Congratulations Debbie!! Well deserved.
Awww, thanks Cheryl. You have been such a faithful supporter of my books through the past two decades. I appreciate your loyalty more than I can express.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I am thrilled for you, but honestly not a bit surprised that you won!!
Well-deserved!! 🙂
The Blue Ridge conference has been on my “wish list” for years, so maybe (Lord willing) I’ll attend at a future conference (what’s not to love about the NC mountains?!). But I always enjoy seeing pictures that author friends post from the conference.
Blessings to you, sweet Deb!
I would encourage you to go to the Blue Ridge Conference next year, Patti Jo. It’s a great place to grow as a writer in beautiful surroundings that nourish your soul. You’re so right – the mountains are the very best place to write in my opinion. Maybe I’ll see you there one day! Thanks for taking the time to write. Hugs!
Congratulations to you, Debbie! ??? I know how much this means to you. I believe it’s a well deserved honor. I’m so happy for you! ???
Hey there, Lou! The award does me a lot to me but hearing from you and my other BFFs means even more. Bless your heart, my friend!
Congratulations, Deb. It’s well deserved.
Melinda, you’re a sweetie! I appreciate you taking the time to write and encourage me. Hugs!
Congratulations on your book awards – truly Blessed!
Thanks, Lois! I do indeed feel blessed to have you as a BFF!
Congratulations! I’m not surprised. I bought one Bless Your Heart for me and one for my daughter, and she told be that she and her husband read the daily devotional every morning. I was surprised in a way because she’s been busy with her grandsons and starting a business after being laid off by Intel after nearly 30 years there. Luckily, her husband is still with them.
I’ve enjoyed all of your books that I have had over the 3 or 4 years. Thank you for sharing your stories and inspirations. They’ve encouraged me a lot along the way.
Charlene, I love it that your daughter and her hubs read a daily devo together. Now that should be one of the tips listed on “How to stay happily married after the honeymoon.” Thank you for taking the time to write and encourage me, my friend. Hugs!
I am SO PROUD of you!
I’m so happy that God gave you the gift and that you’ve used that gift for Him, to bless our hearts!
Love you BIG ?
Thank you, my Jan … You always know how to bless my heart.
Congratulations, Deb! What wonderful news and such a wonderful surprise from God! All your diligence and time in the writing chair is paying off and I’m so happy for you. You have long been sharing the Gospel through your work and His inpiration. Bless your heart!
Cheryl, I hope and pray that the end result of winning these awards is that the Gospel is spread to more people who need to hear it. And regarding time in the writing chair, I know you know about the Button technique – keeping your butt on the chair is the hardest part of writing!
Congratulations. Your love and devotion to God plus your amazing gift of writing shows. You deserve the Selah awards and BOOK OF THE YEAR!
Thank you so much, Wendy, for the uplifting message. I’m still trying to process the whole thing. You are so sweet!