$12,000 Attitude Adjustment
A $12,000 royalty check from book sales.
Not my book, mind you. Not my check. This royalty check went to author Patrick Wensink, whose book was an Amazon best seller last year. While a sizable sum, it puts him right at the poverty line for annual earnings, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. He shared the fiscal details of an author’s plight in an article last week. Ironically, the article posted on the same day I met with my tax advisor — the day I confronted my own meager earnings from 2012.
When I later read the article, it served only to spiral me further down into the depths of discouragement. If his earnings were so insubstantial even after time spent at the ‘top’, what chance do I have of contributing to my household income as a writer and speaker? The only thing lower than my book’s Amazon ranking was my spirits:
That means that there are precisely 1,794,959 books on Amazon that the U.S. thinks are more worthwhile than mine (as evidenced by purchases). I don’t disagree that there are many better books than my own. The hours of labor and prayer that went into it yielded financial results a fraction of Wensink’s.
I wanted to throw in the towel.
Done. Finished. Getting a job where I’d earn minimum wage would be a ginormous raise. Braces went on my daughter’s teeth in January. Driver’s education is just eight months away. We just plotted out four years of high school and have looked up tuition prices for college. Like many of you, we’re staring down a financial picture that isn’t as rosy as we might have hoped.
I began assessing my employment options and measuring their impact on our family and finances (often diametrically opposed). Starbucks. Pottery Barn. Local elementary school. Bookkeeping. Direct sales/home business. These are the venues where many of my fellow mothers have successfully garnered employment with excellent benefits, perks, schedules similar to their children’s or can work remotely. They’re viable options. Good ones. None of them is completely crossed off my list.
But none of them thrill me either. Perhaps work’s purpose isn’t to thrill me. What does thrill me though is God’s Word. Getting a glimpse of His character through Spirit-given understanding of a passage. Seeing God use the circumstances of my life to illuminate the Truth contained in the Bible.
And it thrills me to share it with you. Sometimes you tell me that something I said or wrote helped you or encouraged you… and that just sends me through the roof with joy.
I sat with the proverbial towel in my hand. Ready to throw it ‘in’ and call the whole thing off. But I couldn’t. I can’t. Jesus, who is worthy of all praise and glory, humbled Himself to work that wasn’t celebrated or rewarded by earthly standards, to the job of a lowly household servant. All while His disciples clamored for position.
“… so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
— John 13:4,5 NIV
I may end up working at a job that brings me little intrinsic satisfaction but does bring in some dollars. If so, I will (try to) do it as unto the Lord, with all my heart (Colossians 3:23,24). Likewise, I will continue to do the same here, regardless of the earthly recompense, because I have joy in serving Him — and you.
Instead of throwing it in…
I’m taking up my towel.
You might enjoy this video of Michael Card’s song, “The Basin and the Towel.”
Thanks for reading along.
We’ll never truly know this side of heaven (and maybe not even then, I suppose) what good we’ve done here. All I know for sure is that He doesn’t give talents unless they’re for service. Thanks for washing His feet with your words of encouragement to us. Thanks for keepin’ it real. XO
We’ll never truly know this side of heaven (and maybe not even then, I suppose) what good we’ve done here. All I know for sure is that He doesn’t give talents unless they’re for service. Thanks for washing His feet with your words of encouragement to us. Thanks for keepin’ it real. XO
Perfect reminder, Jenn: talents are given for the good of the Body and for His glory. Thanks. I (obviously) needed that.
We’ll never truly know this side of heaven (and maybe not even then, I suppose) what good we’ve done here. All I know for sure is that He doesn’t give talents unless they’re for service. Thanks for washing His feet with your words of encouragement to us. Thanks for keepin’ it real. XO
Perfect reminder, Jenn: talents are given for the good of the Body and for His glory. Thanks. I (obviously) needed that.
We’ll never truly know this side of heaven (and maybe not even then, I suppose) what good we’ve done here. All I know for sure is that He doesn’t give talents unless they’re for service. Thanks for washing His feet with your words of encouragement to us. Thanks for keepin’ it real. XO
Perfect reminder, Jenn: talents are given for the good of the Body and for His glory. Thanks. I (obviously) needed that.
Thanks for hanging onto your towel. I love reading your posts and they do make a difference. Sometimes they inspire me by something I hadn’t thought of before, sometimes they encourage me as I find us dealing with similar issues. It’s encouraging to know we are not alone. Be confident knowing you make a difference.
Thanks for hanging onto your towel. I love reading your posts and they do make a difference. Sometimes they inspire me by something I hadn’t thought of before, sometimes they encourage me as I find us dealing with similar issues. It’s encouraging to know we are not alone. Be confident knowing you make a difference.
Thanks for hanging onto your towel. I love reading your posts and they do make a difference. Sometimes they inspire me by something I hadn’t thought of before, sometimes they encourage me as I find us dealing with similar issues. It’s encouraging to know we are not alone. Be confident knowing you make a difference.
Glad to hear it, Lisa. And it’s comments that make *me* know that I’m not alone, either. Thanks for the encouragement.
Thanks for hanging onto your towel. I love reading your posts and they do make a difference. Sometimes they inspire me by something I hadn’t thought of before, sometimes they encourage me as I find us dealing with similar issues. It’s encouraging to know we are not alone. Be confident knowing you make a difference.
Glad to hear it, Lisa. And it’s comments that make *me* know that I’m not alone, either. Thanks for the encouragement.
Oh Kirsten,
What timeliness sister . . . you just have no idea. The conversations in our household the past three weeks have sounded similar. I understand too b/c my heart and passion is serving women through writing and speaking, but some things in our lives have recently changed.
I’m reminded of eighteen years of provision on one frugal income as we have faithfully served the Lord. Why do I question Jehovah Jireh, God our provider now? The Lord has blessed and cared for us in ways and numbers beyond our budget and ledger, so why doubt now? Each day/month is ‘faith walking.’ And, our retirement plan is truly out of this world (literally). 😉 (We are in prayer for our situation.)
I appreciate your heart and pray God’s blessing on you dear. And praying for His abundant provision for you! I value your prayers too.
Love you,
Hester,
Oh Kirsten,
What timeliness sister . . . you just have no idea. The conversations in our household the past three weeks have sounded similar. I understand too b/c my heart and passion is serving women through writing and speaking, but some things in our lives have recently changed.
I’m reminded of eighteen years of provision on one frugal income as we have faithfully served the Lord. Why do I question Jehovah Jireh, God our provider now? The Lord has blessed and cared for us in ways and numbers beyond our budget and ledger, so why doubt now? Each day/month is ‘faith walking.’ And, our retirement plan is truly out of this world (literally). 😉 (We are in prayer for our situation.)
I appreciate your heart and pray God’s blessing on you dear. And praying for His abundant provision for you! I value your prayers too.
Love you,
Hester,
Oh Kirsten,
What timeliness sister . . . you just have no idea. The conversations in our household the past three weeks have sounded similar. I understand too b/c my heart and passion is serving women through writing and speaking, but some things in our lives have recently changed.
I’m reminded of eighteen years of provision on one frugal income as we have faithfully served the Lord. Why do I question Jehovah Jireh, God our provider now? The Lord has blessed and cared for us in ways and numbers beyond our budget and ledger, so why doubt now? Each day/month is ‘faith walking.’ And, our retirement plan is truly out of this world (literally). 😉 (We are in prayer for our situation.)
I appreciate your heart and pray God’s blessing on you dear. And praying for His abundant provision for you! I value your prayers too.
Love you,
Hester,
Solidarity, sister! You’ve been faithful ministers and stewards, I know. You’ve got my prayers, for sure.
right there with you. College sticker shock
right there with you. College sticker shock
right there with you. College sticker shock
I always enjoy your posts. They get right to the heart of the topic without dancing around the edges. Sometimes I just need it in good old black and white. On a side note, Michael Card did a concert this evening at Karcher Nazarene and sang that song. I hadn’t heard it before but it was very powerful. Thanks for helping me stop and think about the words again.
I always enjoy your posts. They get right to the heart of the topic without dancing around the edges. Sometimes I just need it in good old black and white. On a side note, Michael Card did a concert this evening at Karcher Nazarene and sang that song. I hadn’t heard it before but it was very powerful. Thanks for helping me stop and think about the words again.
I always enjoy your posts. They get right to the heart of the topic without dancing around the edges. Sometimes I just need it in good old black and white. On a side note, Michael Card did a concert this evening at Karcher Nazarene and sang that song. I hadn’t heard it before but it was very powerful. Thanks for helping me stop and think about the words again.
What a timely concert, Cindy! Thanks for your encouragement.
Amen to ALL of that, Kirsten. I’m right there with you on throwing in the towel, and I’m also up there with you on the roof. I have no idea where writing and speaking will take me (or won’t take me), so I’m just praying that some door will open and suck out some of this fog.
Hang in there. And for what it’s worth, I loved your book 🙂
Amen to ALL of that, Kirsten. I’m right there with you on throwing in the towel, and I’m also up there with you on the roof. I have no idea where writing and speaking will take me (or won’t take me), so I’m just praying that some door will open and suck out some of this fog.
Hang in there. And for what it’s worth, I loved your book 🙂
What an image — to suck out all the fog! Perhaps God will grant us clarity at some point. If not, we know He’ll lead us step by step, right Susan?
Amen to ALL of that, Kirsten. I’m right there with you on throwing in the towel, and I’m also up there with you on the roof. I have no idea where writing and speaking will take me (or won’t take me), so I’m just praying that some door will open and suck out some of this fog.
Hang in there. And for what it’s worth, I loved your book 🙂
What an image — to suck out all the fog! Perhaps God will grant us clarity at some point. If not, we know He’ll lead us step by step, right Susan?
Kirsten,
I so appreciate your candor and wisdom and courage. Yes, all of those . . and your heart for God and using your gifts to serve Him. There is a cost, yes. And a reward. You bless me. Thank you.
Kirsten,
I so appreciate your candor and wisdom and courage. Yes, all of those . . and your heart for God and using your gifts to serve Him. There is a cost, yes. And a reward. You bless me. Thank you.
We’ll keep our eyes on the heavenly reward, eh, Jennifer? In good company with you. 🙂
[…] that doesn’t always reward integrity. We don’t always get the pay raise, promotion or recognition. In spiritual terms, we may not be permitted to play the catalyst role in someone else’s […]
[…] that doesn’t always reward integrity. We don’t always get the pay raise, promotion or recognition. In spiritual terms, we may not be permitted to play the catalyst role in someone else’s […]
Oh keep taking it up. This really encouraged me today.
Lynn, thanks for stopping by. Your comment encourages *me* today. I hope you’ll follow along in the future too (here and on FB). May you see Jesus as you take up your own towel today and every day. 🙂
Oh keep taking it up. This really encouraged me today.
Lynn, thanks for stopping by. Your comment encourages *me* today. I hope you’ll follow along in the future too (here and on FB). May you see Jesus as you take up your own towel today and every day. 🙂
Oh keep taking it up. This really encouraged me today.
Lynn, thanks for stopping by. Your comment encourages *me* today. I hope you’ll follow along in the future too (here and on FB). May you see Jesus as you take up your own towel today and every day. 🙂