Living the Dream
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
Today, I had the honor of visiting Mrs. Sims’ pre-k class at Bleckley County Primary School. Her students showed me so much love—for me and for reading—and I left feeling full of joy and gratitude.
As I sat in that bright classroom, I couldn’t help but think back three years ago. I remember sitting at my teacher desk at Wheeler County High School, facing the window, and praying a simple prayer:
“Lord, I want to be able to visit classrooms all year round and read my books. Can You make that happen? I really want to do that.”
I laid the request at His feet and went back to teaching, loving my students, and serving faithfully in my classroom.
Then, in April of 2024, God whispered to my heart that it was time to “lay my burden down.” I printed my resignation letter, sighed deeply, and walked to Mr. Bell’s office. I smiled as I handed it over, feeling joy but also so many unknowns. For twenty years, teaching had defined me. Who was I without a profession in education? Who was I without the daily stress of the classroom? Who was I without my teenage babies?
The truth is, the first six months after resigning—between May and Christmas of 2024—felt like an extended summer break. It was surreal, as if any moment I would drive back to Alamo and walk back into my classroom.
Amazingly, just this week, my friend Jessica helped me set up all of my books on a table at Greene Acres Farm for Homeschool Day. We ran out of room—so many books that we even forgot one in the box. Again this morning while I waited for the four year old students to sit down so that I could read to them I thought to myself: When did this happen? When did I become an author?
When I sit at my computer and write, I don’t count the cost. I don’t stop to think about the growing collection of titles. I just focus on the most recent story God has put on my heart. With that in mind, I stepped into a classroom like Mrs. Sims’ today, I feel that spark again—the same excitement as the first day of school jitters. Only now, I enter not as a teacher, but as an author.
Sometimes I want to laugh and say: “Hey y’all, when did this AUTHOR thing happen?”
The truth is, it has been my lifelong dream. Since I was tall enough to reach and to pound the keys of the old typewriter at The Lowry’s Builder Supply while my grandfather ran the store, I have dreamed of writing. That little girl had big dreams and even bigger ambition.
However, life led me to teaching, and my dream of writing sat quietly in the background for a while. Until now. Since May 24, 2024, I am an author. For good, for bad, for ugly—I write.
I write for Jesus.
I write for children.
I write because I have a praise in my heart and a deep down desire to— WRITE.
Today, after visiting a room full of eager young readers, I prayed and praised the One who made this possible. Jesus laid down His life for me, and He picked His life back up again so that I might walk in the victory He gave me. Miraculously, He gave me the desires of my heart.
This author is grateful.
This author is blessed.
This author loves Jesus.
Today and every day, as long as there is breath in my lungs and fingers that can fly across the keys, I will serve Him. Amen.
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The Aging English Major 