I love David’s examples too! Especially that it wasn’t all sugary sweet, but realistically ugly at times. Helps me to know that we can be as honest with God as possible.

Good observation, Beverley. I usually journal more about the big nasty things too. But yes, I don’t want to forget the “sweet gentle” things either. I love your phrasing here!

“stuff I would have forgotten about” – that’s encouraging motivation for me, too, Laura. God often told the Israelites to write things down so they wouldn’t forget what he’d done; why would our memories be any different? I definitely need many reminders. Now just to stay disciplined enough to write it down in the first place. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

When I was younger, we called them diaries. Now I don’t hear the term as often, so it’s interesting to hear that across the pond it’s still in vogue to say diaries.

After reading my blog post, my older daughter called to ask me NOT to have my journals thrown away after I’m gone because she would want them. I told her I’d think about it. 🙂 There is definitely a freedom in knowing that no one but God will read our words, but I also don’t want to close off what I’ve seen of God from others. We don’t have to make that decision just yet, right? ha.

You remind of another thing, Pam: our blogging often IS another form of journaling in itself. It’s just not as private, right? 🙂 I have definitely enjoying reading others “online journals,” including yours. Thanks.

I think there might be a tension between your #3 and #4. Writing in my diary does me a lot of good and one important thing is that I can put anything in there. That fact that only I will read it means I don’t have to adopt any particular persona or even any kind of simple consistency (“but last week you said X!”). e.g., one day I can be skeptical about God and question my motives; the next I can rave about feeling Jesus near me. Over time knots kind of unravel in the writing.

I worry (on your behalf! :D) that if someone is thinking “I have to be a Good Christian here in my journal” some things might stay hidden away (from yourself) that would be better written out. Time enough to be a Good Christian when you read what you’ve written. (Forgive me if that’s offensive, I don’t mean to be.)

OTOH I remember one rough patch I went through, I thought my gloomy writings might be making things worse. So I gave myself a challenge to write about three nice things that had happened every day — however tiny — and that had a beneficial effect. You can do different things with it at different times I suppose. Like an old old friend.