M is for Morsel ~ by Michelle Strutzenberger

 

Do you remember what you ate for breakfast two Thursdays ago?

Whether you do or not doesn’t really matter, does it?

The point is, you can trust that that breakfast, that morsel, whatever it was, nourished you for that time.

Scripture

Just as we regularly eat for present physical nourishment, we read the Bible regularly for present spiritual nourishment.

We may not remember our devotions from two Thursdays ago, but we can trust those readings, those morsels, nourished our spirit for that time.

My pastor deserves the credit for this “food/devotional-as-nourishment-for-our-present-time” point.

I thought it could be called the “morsel principle.”

Writing

I’d like to suggest this same principle can be applied to our work as Christian writers – perhaps more so today than ever before.

A few years ago, and for decades before that, the publishing industry essentially meant the production of printed works that readers might come to count as “treasures.” They might buy, read, reread, collect, save, and eventually pass on, these tangible artifacts.

Today, however, the reading habits of many don’t involve printed works as much as they used to. Instead, readers spend more time online following blogs (like this one), subscribing to e-publications, and liking/commenting on social media posts. (According to a report from Publishers Weekly, print book sales fell 2.6% in 2023)1.   

I’m not sure how other writers feel about this, but I’ve struggled with wondering about the worth of my work when it is something that is “consumed” online.

I long for the olden days, when printed works were “treasures” bought, read, put on shelves, reread, collected, and passed on.

Yet, if we think of “morsel” principle, perhaps we can be encouraged. Maybe nobody will remember or “treasure” our works as printed artifacts. However, if we are trusting the Lord to lead our writing, then we can trust that He will use our work, however it is published, to nourish someone in one of their present moments.

We can pray over every piece we post, whether in blog form, on social media, via e-news, or some other way, “Lord, use these words for someone’s nourishment today.”

Then, even if they don’t remember it later, we can be encouraged that our written words, dedicated to Jesus’ service, may be a “morsel” for someone’s present moment.

Michelle and her family enjoy hiking mountains and trails together. She is currently sharing a series called, What Growing Up in a Mennonite Family of 10 Taught Me About Survival. To read the series, send an email to awakehopetoday@gmail.com.

1.      Milliot, J. (Jan. 5, 2024). Print book sales fell 2.6% in 2023. Publishers Weekly. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/94037-print-book-sales-fell-2-6-in-2023.html