A Dream Come True
You could say that it all began when, as a little girl, I thought a bookkeeper was a person who kept literal books for others. Imagine how disappointed I was when my mom explained to me the actual work of a bookkeeper! I loved reading, and even then at such a young age, I knew I wanted to do something book-related with my future.
The dream of owning my own bookshop really took hold while I was attending Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C. During those years, I began visiting independent bookshops. Each bookshop was so unique with its own vibe and specialty, and I loved them all. I kept thinking, "Wouldn't it be cool to have my own little bookshop one day?" However, I figured this dream was one that, if it came true, would be enjoyed later in life, maybe during retirement. So I earned degrees in English and went on to work as a journalist and a college English instructor. Still, the bookshop remained in my mind and heart.
At the start of 2022, I felt the Lord leading me to pursue this bookshop venture. I didn't understand it all, but I knew it was time to give it a go. By the end of that January, I was on the hunt for a location. Over the next couple of months, I encountered several hurdles as possible locations became dead ends. Then, my beloved grandpa, who I affectionately call "Poppy," passed away and work on the bookshop paused for a while. When I returned to the work, I found that, without a location secured, I couldn't move forward. Ultimately, I knew all I could do was let the dream sit and trust God. I had prayed and worked hard, so if He wanted me to continue on this path, if the bookshop was part of His plan for my life, He would make a way.
Jump to August 1, the day that, as my mom and I like to say, God hit us over the head with a renewed vision for the bookshop. We recalled a comment that our pastor had made just the Sunday before - that there was not one Christian bookshop in our area - and we realized that my bookshop could be located absolutely anywhere in the county. It may not seem like a grand revelation, but it was. See, we had previously put my little bookshop in a box, burdened with so many requirements that we thought it needed to meet in order to be successful. But God changed the way we thought about the bookshop that day, reminding us not to discount anything - including any location - when He's involved. We knew immediately the bookshop was meant to be in Salemburg, so we drove straight there and began searching for possible retail locations. We visited the town's municipal building to make inquiries, and wouldn't you know that there was one open space in town. It had recently been renovated and had just become available. If that isn't an answered prayer and an open door from God, I don't know what is! When I visited the space for the first time, I was speechless. It was perfect; just what I wanted. Even the choices made in the recent renovation, everything from the paint color to the flooring, were just what I would have chosen if I had done it myself. God literally took care of everything, even down to the smallest of details. By the end of the week, the lease was signed, and I was moving in. I had a bookshop!
The next couple months as I prepared the shop were especially sweet. I actually had a hard time leaving to go home; I just wanted to enjoy this gift from my God, this little dream that He graciously made come true. I opened the bookshop's red door to the public on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2022, and what a sweet opening day it was. I'm so thankful to the family, friends, church family, and community that came out to support me. It means more to me than you'll ever know, and it's just another example of God's goodness, shown through His people. I don't know why God saw fit to grant me this dream come true. I'm by no means deserving of such kindness. All I know is that He is good beyond what we can imagine, and He has specific plans lovingly crafted for each of us. So if you have a dream you're still holding, know that God sees and hears you. While our dreams are not guaranteed to come true, we can always be sure that God cares so much for us. So if your dream comes true or not, if it does or doesn't play out like you thought or wished it would, remember that God is still good. I often remind myself of the truth that if He never did anything else for me, what He did on the cross through His Son Jesus is more than enough.
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Wishing you happy reading and all of God's blessings,
Lauren Williams, owner