Love and Success

Yesterday I was blessed with quite a bloggy surprise! I logged into Blogger, and checked my stats as I usually do, then checked recent posts of blogs that I follow.

I clicked over to Rediscovering Domesticity, and saw that my bloggy friend Audra had just entered her first post as a new editor at Gather Inspirit. I was all excited for her. Then I clicked over to read her post, and saw something called Love Ambush.

"What a nice idea," I thought. She encouraged readers to click over to another (unnamed) blog to love on the author of that blog by leaving comments, following and/or praying for her (among other things). I was all ready to join in the fun, when to my surprise, I clicked over and landed right here. Yep, on my blog! (I actually did it twice just to make sure I wasn't trippin' or something. And yes, that word is a part of my vocabulary!)

So, thanks to Audra and the team at Gather Inspirit for making my day yesterday! That was totally awesome, and now I have a few more blog friends because of Love Ambush! (Hello, new friends!)

That was such a timely happening for me, as I was thinking about blogging success (and just success in general) recently. Am I a successful blogger when I have say, 200 followers? When I receive a steady stream of comments? Or maybe when I master blog design? What goal am I working toward with this "lowly" blog of mine?

I think as a blogger it's really easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to other bloggers. It's easy to become discontent with your look, your content or your features. I know I see other bloggers that post daily, who have thriving communities, or weekly link-ups that attract hundreds. But I'm not them! At least not yet. And that's okay!

Ultimately, the conclusion I've come to with blogging success, or any success, is that I just need to do what God directs me to do! No more. No less. Sure there are things that will be revealed to me in time that are key to advancing my blog so that I can reach my goals. I'm still pretty new to all of this (my blog just reached 8 months a couple days ago)! But I know that I'm right where God wants me to be. I have a young family, a home to take care of and other stuff to do. I need to make sure I'm doing all those other things well, and not get caught up in making my blog "all that it can be." I know that God will promote my blog (and other projects and things that I undertake) as I trust Him to lead me. Just like the Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

What does success look like to you? Do you struggle with trying to build your blog while maintaining balance in other areas?