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Today I confess that I am a Christian and I am a children’s author, but I haven’t published a Christian children’s book. So, how is it that I’m allowed to write on the Christian Children’s Authors blog?

Good question.

When I approached the founder of this blog about contributing articles, she graciously gave me room at the writers table to share my heart—first, as a follower of Jesus and second, as a children’s author. While society deems it necessary to separate our faith from public settings, followers of Jesus know that it’s impossible to separate our faith from anything we do.

What Paul shared in Colossians 3:23 says it best:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not human masters. 

In applying Paul’s words to my writing, my books reflect my heart for and relationship with the Lord. They honor God as much as a piece of Christian literature or a worship song.

In a recent post, I mentioned how my stories “find” me—that they are more an act of God’s Holy Spirit urging me to write more than if I created a Christian verse myself. If God feels there is a need to be met by my writing, then whether or not it contains a Bible verse or mentions God or Jesus in the message, matters not. What does matter is that I follow the Holy Spirit’s leading.

When we follow the Holy Spirit’s lead, God provides divine appointments along the way, just like this one:

When my newest book, Invisible Jenny May, debuted at a local Lord & Taylor department store, God sent a Jewish lady named Marjorie to my table. She picked up the book and started reading…one page and then another. Peering over the top of the book, our eyes met. “You know,” she said, “I’m starting to relate to Jenny May! How is it that I can be surrounded by my family and no one can hear me? No one even notices me!” She explained how she just came to make a simple exchange on her purchase, but “what a coincidence” she said in Yiddish, that she should run into Jenny May. I answered, “I call that a God-incidence. And, you know what? Today, I see you, Marjorie, and I notice you!”

Lord & Taylor book signing

After a hug and a purchase, Marjorie finished what she originally came to do. It wasn’t just a coincidence that she showed up and met me and Invisible Jenny May. I am convinced that God knew Marjorie needed the message of my children’s book and to feel His warmth through our interaction.

Creating secular stories with a strong moral fabric opens doors to minister in the public sectors where faith-based works cannot. I am allowed, without apology, into public schools where I meet the world. It allows me to befriend the lonely student and encourage their God-given talents and creativity. I meet the bullied and the bullies and am allowed to instill hope into their hopelessness.

Public school author visit

Kindergarten book presentation

Is this to say there is no place for Christian children’s stories in my future? Not at all. In fact, I have three such stories in the works. Our Christian children need faith-based stories that help them apply biblical wisdom to their daily lives. However, if you’re a Christian who writes, but might wonder if your “secular” work is truly bringing God glory, I’m here to cheer for you; to reassure you that if your work is done as though you were working for Christ alone, then. it. matters.

Whatever (everything) you do, put your whole heart into it as if God were the recipient! THIS…this is what matters. Then, trust that God will create those divine appointments that only He can make. Your job is to show up and represent Him well.

What say you?

Blessings,

Dawn Aldrich – Christian and Author