"Just thought you'd want to know you got something in the mail from your publisher."
I grinned into the phone, as if my DH could see me. "Open it, open it! I'll bet it's my first royalty check!" I planned what missionaries I'd help, what cruises I'd take, and what model of new car I'd buy for Mom in the time it took him to rip the envelope open.
His voice changed from sparkling cider to skim milk. "Oh."
"What? Is it that dinky?"
"Well, honey, it's only the check for the books people pre-ordered on Amazon the month before your book came out. Don't make any big plans. We'll be able to put some in the offering at Vacation Bible School this week, and then go out for ice cream--but only one scoop."
Oh, well.
I don't write for money, anyway. Don't misunderstand. I have no qualms about making lots of money. But that's not my motivation to write.
I write because I have this vibrant garden-full of seeds in my soul, shouting at me to plant them on the page and get them into others' hearts, so they'll sprout and blossom and grow. If I make some money along the way, splendid. Then I can help more people meet my Jesus, take some trips, and get Mom a new car. If not, then at least I know there are some gardens out there that that would be barren deserts unless I'd planted some hope and humor into them.
Maybe my next royalty check will afford me a gift to a missionary. And
Two Scoops. As long as we have Chuckles on Top, I'm good.
And you? How do you feel about Christians getting rich from writing, singing, or using other gifts? If someone offered you a book deal for ten million dollars, would you turn it down?
