Maple Lane Devotional
When God Closes a Door… He Gently Guides You to the Library
Aimee Little had been sad ever since she had been laid off from the Maplewood Herald as a graphic designer. She had lost the easy smiles others had given her as she had gone about her day. Maybe she had been so in her creative bliss zone she hadn’t noticed the rest of the world was just hanging on in many ways. No one really seemed happy, joyful or even grounded.
She wasn’t sure what to do next. Her mom wasn’t a constant in her life. She was in and out like a ghost, never quite finding a resting place with family. Her granny Aribella had died over a year ago and she had been Aimee’s rock. Grandpa Ellis was a tinkerer and woodcrafter. But he rarely set foot in the house he and Aimee shared. She felt like she was alone in the world. Her creative spark was waining in her depression and many she had turned to for support were now always too busy or in the middle of one of their own life trials.
Publisher Manny Slater was the new big boss at the Maplewood Herald and her had been the sythe that cut all the cords of stability in her life. He lived at the end of her block on Maple Lane and she was daily forced to politely smile at him as he came and went to work. Every time she saw him she felt sick to her stomach.
He was a pretender. He didn’t run the Herald at all. He let more of the old timers do it for him while he put his feet up on his shiny new desk and played all day. Aimee couldn’t imagine how boring and mind numbing that life would be.
Trying to avoid Manny this morning was a challenge but it reminded her of Mrs. Brighton. Two months ago her sons Brian and Tim had put her in a nursing home and a few weeks later the staff was horrified to learn they had sold the newspaper right out from under her. Mrs. Brighton and her late husband Wilton had started it together to aide the Maplewood community. It had been sold to an outfit that didn’t have the best reputation. Aimee had been in the first wave of outings. Even Ellie Grant who used to work in the design department with her had been moved to a reporting position. She had a background in it so she fell into it easy enough. But Aimee hadn’t found her own soft place to fall yet. Prayer had been her constant go-to but it almost felt like everyone else — God included — was too busy to give her a sign, a direction or even a whisper of what to do now.
The library that morning was quiet but more busy than she expected. The cool building was a shelter to many homeless during the hot summer months and its programs kept kids and families coming in often. It had become a good healing space for her to contemplate her future.
Aimee began to haunt the kids department since she was obsessed with the Percy Jackson series and had plenty of time to read now. It wasn’t long before the upstairs librarian had her helping with bookish bulletin boards in the kids department. Aimee found a healing in the activity. It gave her a real purpose she was missing in her life.
Soon after, one of the ladies at church invited her to lunch at her independent living facility. It was a twist of fate because when she walked in Mrs. Brighton was there in the cafeteria. Aimee’s heart leaped. Mrs. Brighton had been one of her favorite people at the newspaper. Her stories about all the extraordinary trips she took abroad were so fascinating. She had written about them years earlier in her travel columns. It was nice to see her doing so well. And before long Pastor Ben had Aimee assisting with the new nursing home services on Sunday afternoon along with Dek Fox, the church’s worship leader. Even though her perfect job hadn’t yet shown up, she was seeing a silent new alignment in her life. And that made Aimee smile.
Absolutely! Here's a Maple Lane Devotional based on Aimee Little’s story. This devotional reflects on God’s quiet redirection and the healing power of purpose and connection, even in the midst of loss and uncertainty.
🍁 The Maple Lane Devotional Series
"When God Closes a Door… He Gently Guides You to the Library"
Inspired by the story of Aimee Little
📖 Scripture:
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”
— Psalm 37:23 (NLT)
💬 Devotional Thought:
Aimee Little didn’t just lose her job — she lost her spark, her rhythm, and the quiet encouragements that once colored her world. Her creative calling was wrapped in grief, loneliness, and frustration. The very place that had brought her joy, the Maplewood Herald, was now a symbol of upheaval — and the man responsible for it lived right down her street.
Yet God has a way of guiding us through loss with gentle redirection. Not always through neon signs or grand gestures, but through the hush of a library aisle, a child’s drawing, or a lunch invite that leads to an unexpected reunion.
Aimee’s journey reminds us that while our dreams may pause or pivot, they’re never wasted. What felt like a dead end became a hallway to healing. She didn’t find her answer in a newsroom or a paycheck, but in bulletin boards, children’s books, and the rediscovery of a beloved mentor. Slowly, piece by piece, her life began to align—not through striving, but surrender.
When we feel sidelined, forgotten, or unworthy, God is often repositioning us—not punishing us. He delights in the details we think He’s missed. He sees the spark that still flickers and fans it into flame at just the right time.
🙏 Prayer:
Lord,
When life feels uncertain and the doors I trusted slam shut, remind me that You are still writing my story. Help me find peace in the in-between, and show me how to serve and connect even when I don’t know what’s next. Give me eyes to see Your subtle guidance and a heart that trusts in the quiet work You’re doing behind the scenes. Amen.
📝 Journal Prompts:
What door in your life recently closed that left you feeling lost or unsure?
Where have you seen small signs of hope or unexpected joy in the past few weeks?
Who has encouraged you—past or present—whose voice you might revisit or reconnect with?
How can you serve or use your talents in a small way, even before you find your next big opportunity?
🌱 Maple Lane Moment:
Sometimes healing comes not in finding your old life again—but in allowing God to write the new one. Aimee didn’t find the perfect job, but she found purpose and community. Let this devotional remind you: You are not forgotten. You are being realigned.
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