I write words–stories and poems–to encourage children and the caring adults in their lives. Words that lift them up, show them a positive character or outcome, show them that they can have hope in hopeless situations. The words we write have the power to do that.
For me, this means I will do my best to produce literary works that excel and please God. It also means offering stories, poems, books and articles that are written from my heart and imagination. It means writing from a Christian worldview. When that happens, the story or book will be subtly, or overtly, Christian without my trying to make it so.
It also means that the products of my imagination will be stories that leave the reader with a sense of hope and/or redemption, and the possibility of hearing from the Holy Spirit in that story.
Regardless of which publishers choose to publish those stories.
Renowned children’s author Katherine Patterson explained her philosophy of writing for children in her little book Gates of Excellence published in 1981.
She writes, “Fiction is not the Gospel. But it can be a voice crying in the wilderness – and for the writer and the reader who know grace it will not be a cry of despair but a cry of hope – a voice crying in our wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord.” (page 64.)
I agree. I pray that my words offer fun instead of drudgery, joy instead of sorrow, and hope instead of despair.
Ephesians 3:16-21 (NLT)
16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
