God’s Gifts in Our Writing—3 Things for Every Writer to Remember

by Tim Suddeth @TimSuddeth

Last month, my mom had her ninetieth birthday. For several weeks leading up to her party, she was so excited. She hoped so and so would be there. (Mom, I’m sure they will try to come.) That the weather would be fine. (You know it’s April, Mom. We’ll hope for the best.) I hope I get a picture with all my great grandbabies. (I’m sure we’ll make that happen.)

The party is long over, but it is still bringing joy to my mom. On her dining room table, she has a stack of cards and gifts her friends and family gave her. She told me on a recent phone call that she still goes to the table and reads through them a couple of times a day.

We all know the joy that getting a gift brings. Birthdays, weddings, graduations, anniversaries are all days that we celebrate by giving gifts.

But have you ever thought about the gift that you are giving your readers?

I’m not talking about the story. I’m talking about if/since we think God has called us to write what we write, then He intends it to be a gift from Him to our reader or readers.

If He has sent us, it doesn’t matter to how many, does it?

What does writing a gift from God mean?

1. A gift represents the giver.

I am sure that most of the gifts Mom got she will never use. I remember with a lot of our wedding presents, one of the first questions I asked my wife was is it returnable?

But the usefulness of a gift isn’t what makes it valuable. It’s important because of who gave it to you.

We see this all the time on Antique Roadshow. I love that show. Especially when they bring out a hideous picture or vase. The owner doesn’t know that much about it except that they keep it in the closet or attic because nobody likes it. But Grandma, or Aunt Cleo, or a good friend, gave it to them.

The appraiser tells about its history and who made it. Then they give us the value of the object. Watching the owner’s face is one of the highlights of the show.

Their eyes get big. Then they look sideways and get a goofy smile as they tally up just how much money that is. Then, often they step back and sigh, “That’s great/good/amazing, but Papa gave that to us and it’s not for sale.”

The value of the gift didn’t come from its worth, but from the person who gave it.

If our writing is to be a gift from God to our readers, it isn’t because of who we are or what we have done, but because of who He is. I am just a hungry beggar telling another beggar where to find the Bread of Life. (By the way. Why is that beggar and not begger?)

2. A gift helps the receiver.

We are in the middle of a season where a lot of writing awards will be given out. Some of us have entered some of the contests. And if you are like me, you really want to win.

And there is nothing wrong with that. We should put in the hard work that is necessary to make our writing worthy of an award.

But if we are writing to be rewarded, or for approval, we are setting ourselves up for a lot of disappointment.

If we want our writing or any action to be a gift from God, we have to realize Who is sending it, and who He is sending it to.

I write mysteries and suspense. I want my stories to keep you on the edge of your seat. But I also want to show that there is hope in our dark world. And that there is a just, heavenly Judge on His throne.

3. A gift builds relationships.

It’s graduation season. And we are starting to receive graduation notifications (Not invitations, because the school doesn’t have room for you and the kid really doesn’t know you) from nieces and nephews, and the kids of friends and coworkers.

We will respond with some type of gift, maybe a book or a toaster or a gift card. Not because they know who we are, or the gift will be useful, but to let them or their parents know we care.

And God uses the talent He gave us to give gifts to both us and our readers because He wants a relationship with us. He doesn’t want to see us as another friend or like on social media. He wants to get to know us. Spend time with us. With you.

And He has made that perfectly clear. Not just in the gifts He has sent to and through us. But by the gift of His Son.

Do you realize Jesus is the only thing God couldn’t copy? He could have given a nation, a moon, or a galaxy for our salvation and immediately made another one to replace it. But His eternal, omnipotent, only beloved son Jesus has no peers. No substitute.

Jesus is His gift to us. From a cross.

Writing a gift from God demands a lot of responsibility.

TWEETABLE

God’s Gifts in Our Writing—3 Things for Every Writer to Remember from @TimSuddeth on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Tim Suddeth is a stay-at-home dad and butler for his wonderful, adult son with autism. He has written numerous blogs posts, short stories, and three novels waiting for publication. He is a frequent attendee at writers conferences, including the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and a member of Word Weavers and ACFW. He lives near Greenville, SC where he shares a house with a bossy Shorky and three too-curious Persians. You can find him on Facebook and Twitter, as well as at www.timingreenville.com and www.openingamystery.com.

Featured Image: Photo by Surface on Unsplash