Don’t Wait—Create: A Lesson from The Penderwicks

Don’t Wait—Create: A Lesson from The Penderwicks

Have you ever longed for something that didn’t exist? Jeanne Birdsall did—and instead of waiting, she created it.

“By the time I was ten or eleven, I’d run out of books to read. Each week, I’d go to the library hoping that one of my favorite authors had written something new. Or even better, maybe I’d find a new author who wrote just the kind of books I loved the best. But most weeks I’d have to take home books I’d already read, sometimes eight, nine, or ten times. I promised myself that I’d become a writer someday, to give readers like me a few more books to discover and enjoy. The Penderwicks is my first.”
—Jeanne Birdsall (From the back cover of The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy)

The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall is a middle-grade series of books about the adventures of four sisters as they navigate childhood, family bonds, and growing up. The first time we read it, the back cover material delighted me, especially the quote above. Instead of waiting for someone else to write the book, she wrote it. We were huge Penderwicks fans, eagerly awaiting each new volume.

We even managed to name one of our dogs, Batty, after one of the sisters. Years later, when a new dog came into our lives, we named her Birdie, a nod to the author herself. We wanted to carry a piece of the stories we loved into our lives. At its heart, The Penderwicks is a story about creating—creating joy, adventure, family, and belonging, even in unexpected places.

What’s Missing Might Be Your Calling

So often, we notice what isn’t there.

• Maybe you long for a community that feels truly welcoming.
• Maybe you wish for work that fills you with a sense of purpose.
• Maybe you dream of a world that values kindness over competition.

Noticing these gaps isn’t a bad thing. In fact, that ache inside of you—the longing for something more—might be an invitation. It might be a nudge from God, whispering: This is yours to create.

The things we wish existed in the world aren’t random. They reveal something about what we are meant to bring into it. If you find yourself longing for something over and over, don’t dismiss it. Pay attention. It might be your calling.

Sometimes, the thing you are most frustrated by is the thing you are most called to change. If something tugs at your heart again and again, it’s worth asking—what if this is mine to do? What if this longing isn’t a burden, but a guide?

Becoming the One Who Creates

Birdsall didn’t just wish for books like The Penderwicks—she wrote one. Then another. She kept going until she had created a series of five books. She took action on what she longed for, and in doing so, she gave the world something timeless. Her books now live in the hearts of readers.

We can do the same. We don’t have to wait for someone else to make the world feel the way we wish it would. We can start now.

• If you long for a deeper sense of community, be the one who invites others in.
• If you crave encouragement, be the one who speaks life into someone else.
• If you wish for more beauty in your daily life, start creating it in small, tangible ways.

We tend to look outward for solutions, waiting for someone else to fix what feels broken to us. But what if you are meant to bring the change?

The Fear That Holds Us Back

Creating something new is vulnerable. It’s easier to wish for something than to step out and make it happen.

Doubt creeps in: Who am I to do this? What if I fail? What if no one cares?

But what if Jeanne Birdsall had listened to those voices? How many beautiful things never come to life simply because someone convinced themselves they weren’t ready? What if she believed she wasn’t a “real” writer or that no one would want to read her story? We wouldn’t have The Penderwicks. We wouldn’t have this beautiful family of characters to watch grow up.

What if the thing you’re meant to create never comes to life—not because it isn’t needed, but because you talked yourself out of it? The world doesn’t need another person waiting for permission. It needs you—fully alive, fully engaged, willing to take the risk of bringing something new into existence.

You Are a Creator

You don’t have to be an artist, a writer, or a musician to be a creator. Creating is simply bringing something into the world that didn’t exist before.

• A handwritten letter to a friend who needs encouragement.
• A cozy and welcoming home where people feel safe and valued.
• A tradition that brings joy and meaning to your family.
• A thoughtful gift that makes someone feel seen and appreciated.
• A meal that gathers loved ones around the table.

Creation doesn’t have to be groundbreaking to be meaningful. Sometimes, the smallest choices create the biggest ripples. Often, it’s found in the smallest choices—choosing to live with intention, choosing to show up when it would be easier to shrink back, choosing to be the person you once needed.

The Ripple Effect of Creation

The same is true for you. The things you long for, the ideas that keep coming back, might not be coincidences—they might be invitations. We often underestimate how much impact our acts of creation have. When one person creates, it inspires others.

Think of J.K. Rowling, who imagined Harry Potter on a delayed train ride and built a world beloved by millions. Or Fred Rogers, who saw a gap in children's television and created Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, shaping generations with kindness and empathy. Their creations started as longings—ideas waiting for someone to bring them to life.

Jeanne Birdsall didn’t just write The Penderwicks for herself—her decision to write that book brought joy to thousands. What you create might do the same. You never know whose life will be changed by the thing you bring into the world. One act of courage, one moment of saying yes instead of waiting, might be the very thing someone else needs to see or hear.

Maybe It’s Meant to Be Made—By You

Like Birdsall, maybe the thing that’s missing isn’t meant to be found. Maybe it’s meant to be made—by you. Maybe the very thing you long for is the thing you are uniquely called to create.

When you find yourself wishing for something that doesn’t seem to exist, don’t dismiss that longing. It’s an invitation. And who knows? What you create—whether it’s a story, a relationship, a home, a business, or simply a new way of showing up in the world—might just be the thing someone else is searching for, too.

Experiment With Small Steps

What small step can you take today? Creation isn’t about perfection—it’s about beginning.

• Write a note of encouragement to someone who needs it.
• Set up a coffee date with someone you’d like to get to know better.
• Start a project for the joy of it, without worrying about the results.
• Experiment. Be curious. See what happens when you take the first step—because every beautiful thing that exists started with someone daring to begin.

Just like Jeanne Birdsall once longed for books she couldn’t find, you might be longing for something that hasn’t yet been created. So go ahead—take the first step. The world is waiting for you. The world doesn't need more dreamers: it needs more people willing to bring those dreams to life.  Take that step. 

I'll be cheering you on, and I can’t wait to see what you create.