Each morning as I sit down to write, one thought circles around in my head.

What do I have to offer?

Obviously, as a seasoned waitress,  I could show you how to balance three huge plates on your arm and teach you the difference between Chicken Costoletta ( 3 pieces, asparagus) and Chicken Di Pana (2 pieces, broccoli). Somehow, though, I don’t think that would be useful to you.

I can offer you my favorite joke, free for you to use at boring dinner parties with people named Muffy. Here it is:

Sarah Jessica Parker walks into a bar. The bartender leans over and says, “Why the long face?”.

I would love to be able to share tips on how to be a successful writer; how to get out of debt and get in the best shape of your life; how to have a great marriage; or how to travel to Ireland and find a husband with a real Irish accent!

Let’s be real, though. I’m still figuring all of that out myself.

Still, I think it’s important to write with a purpose. So, seriously. What do I have to offer?

I have the Gospel. I have 10 years of walking with God and seeing him prove himself Faithful and True over and over. Someone needs that.

I have  driven up and down the streets of the town called Singleness, trying to find the exit ramp to Married, but always end up slamming the car in reverse and gunning it home because Married looks scary and it’s ears stick out. I take weekend trips to Probably Shouldn’t, and then spend a lot of money on repairs before I’m ready to venture out again.

I’m great at metaphors.

I live in the ‘hood. I can teach you some survival skills. Don’t buy or sell drugs and don’t walk around by yourself at night. Everyone is actually nice. Even the drug dealer across the street (what up, E!).

I have a jacked up past. I love people with addictions. I will always struggle because I come from self-destructive and dangerous behavior. All of this makes me less, “I’m a Sunshine Rainbow Sweater Vest Christian” and more of  “Jesus is the only thing that helps and he holds me together Christian.” I’m nobody’s judge, I just know that without him destruction wins. So I have that.

I’m kind of awesome at giving advice.

Sometimes I throw down in the kitchen, sometimes I play guitar badly.  I can teach you how to do both. I can show you how to make pallet art.

My hope is that my writing will connect with someone, somewhere, and maybe tell them they’re not alone in their struggles. I hope they will see Jesus in my words, even the sarcastic, because let’s be honest, I can’t stand to be serious for long. I hope they will see the beauty and value in their own life, and be more forgiving of their flaws and mistakes. I hope they will be encouraged to let go of things that aren’t doing them any good. I hope they will LOL.

I guess that’s good enough for me.

See you tomorrow, Friend.

Ang