I have to let you read this story. An author recently wrote this to me:
I’d like to share something with you that I’m not sure a lot of authors get to share. Two months ago, I noticed my novels on my youngest daughter’s nightstand and found her reading them every night. I didn’t want to scare her off from reading them by asking questions, so I just let her read. A couple weeks ago, she approached my husband about getting baptized. She said over the last few weeks, a couple things brought her to the choice to follow Christ: our cat was really sick and she prayed God would heal him, she saw how gracious God has been giving us a permanent home, and reading my books helped her understand how to talk to God. Those three things brought her to Christ.
When my husband told me, I was moved to tears. My hope was that my books would first and foremost help me share my faith with my kids and my family. To watch God use my stories in saving the life of my youngest daughter is the best thing I’ll ever experience as an author.
I just wanted to share because books really can change people’s lives!
It is so true. The power of a book is the power to transform a life. To point the way. To carve a path. To break the darkness with a dawn. To embrace an emotion. To hear a new song that won’t leave the mind. To widen a perspective. To salve an open wound. To get kicked in the seat of the pants. To open the heart to the leading of the Spirit.
This is why we do what we do. We work hard at the business of writing because it can have life-changing results.
When the writing life gets hard. When it gets aggravating. When it disappoints you. When it seemingly fails. Remember this. Books change lives. Words matter. The right ones at the right time in the right place to the right person can have eternal impact.
Our agency exists to help change the world word by word. May the work you do this week bless someone in a way you never thought possible.
Fun Fridays – April 6, 2018
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I love this post so much. I had to read it because if one thing rings true in my life is the fact that books have impacted me. Due to their impact, I’m always looking to share a good book with others.
Books do change lives.
Beautiful and true! Thank you so much for sharing. It encourages me that someone might just read my words and find comfort in God’s arms.
Thank you for this post, Steve. It literally gave me goosebumps. I cannot think of anything finer than making the ultimate change in the life of your own child–leading her to God. That makes every bit of work worthwhile. God is surely smiling down on you.
Words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in pitchers of silver. Somewhere in Proverbs.
One, single changed life is worth it all!! Love the post.
Thank you for such an encouraging word.
Oh my goodness. Yes and amen. May it always be so. Thank you.
Steve,
What a precious story! I imagine that mom’s depth of writing just went a little deeper.
When we get to heaven I wonder how many lives—if every single writer would grasp the truth that books DO change lives, even if just one—will be changed as a result of reading a book (other than the Bible, for the illustration of this blog post). I get goosebumps just thinking about it.
—Tisha
I love this! What a great testimony to the power of words that Jesus can use to save! Thank you for sharing.
Amen 🙂