There are those days when I feel like a footnote; a mere reference in the essay of life. I sit on page 50 in 8 point Times New Roman font, footnote #7 properly cited in APA format. In my worst case scenario I’m not even the full citation – I am merely an “Ibid et al”. Depressing much?

On those days I imagine someone almost missing me and then suddenly realizing I’m there and saying “So…What’s it like to be a footnote?” before quickly moving on to the important stuff.

Yet in a good research paper or essay, footnotes and references cannot be underestimated – they are critical to making a paper credible and authentic. If you don’t reference properly you get a poor grade, it’s that simple, it’s that important.

A good author searches hard to find the right reference, the unique one that will lend credibility to the essay and give them the backing needed to move on. Ask anyone who has done a dissertation and they will tell you of the days they were stuck, paralyzed as it were, until they found the perfect reference, the perfect footnote.

And God is the author who put in this footnote. He searched out this footnote until he found it and placed it right where it belonged. To him this footnote is infinitely loved, of immeasurable importance, of unimaginable worth. And he never grows tired of writing this essay, writing the narrative of life, of giving us creative ways to articulate his truth.

So I don’t know if you feel like a footnote or an important chapter – either way, know that you are part of the Author’s Pulitzer Prize winning book of life.

“God surely must love the minor characters, having made so many of them!” (courtesy of Dr. Daniel Brown, source unidentified)

CAB Readers – Thank you!  We did it! Made it to over 100,000 views yesterday since I began writing in January 2011. When I began this project as a way to find my voice I didn’t dare hope that people would be as affirming and supportive as they are! Thank you! Stay tuned for more on a celebration inviting you to share your stories! Also – if you like the content, invite others to join in! 

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