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.