Writer in the Wings

By Joanne Kraft

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

As we entered through the old red door, the words on the poster jumped out at me. “Writer’s Night.” I was immediately intrigued.

So, what’s a writer’s night? Well, writer can also mean songwriter down here in the south. These are the folks who write words and put them to catchy tunes and tender melodies. They write the songs you hum in the grocery store and sing in the car—the Grammy award-winning CMT songs others more famous sing and get the credit for.

Being in Nashville is like entering a different world. If you love country music like I do, it’s a magical place to be. Music is a way of life out here. It’s everywhere.

As the songwriter shared his music with us, I recognized many of his songs. But, it wasn’t his voice I was used to hearing sing them. It got me to thinking, as a writer, would I be okay working to create beauty from my words and allow another to get the credit? Would I be joyful putting the song of my heart into a devotion, magazine article or book without anyone every knowing I was the writer?

On President Ronald Reagan’s desk in the oval office sat this quote, “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.”

Do you mind who gets the credit? Are you getting caught up with getting your “name” out there? Have you become discouraged and disillusioned by all the social marketing and platform building talk, lately?

The Bible says when Jesus returns He will give us crowns. One of those crowns is the crown of glory for those faithful to serve Him. (1Peter 1:1-4). Serving means sacrificially using our gifts for His glory, not just for the three book deals and paid articles. I serve Him as a writer when I write a blog post, a personal recipe in a church newsletter or stuff an encouraging note in my child’s lunchbox.

The Bible goes on to say once we receive these crowns, we will cast those crowns at His feet.

They will cast their crowns before the throne.

“The twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne…” Revelation 4:10

A songwriter stands in the wings. Their byline is in teeny tiny print somewhere we don’t notice or rarely read. We don’t know their name and we aren’t interested in their autograph. Yet these folks continue to write songs for others, unrecognized by the masses while receiving a pittance of the earnings the superstar belting out their tune receives.

Songwriters are the perfect example of how we should use God’s blessed gift of writing; faithfully and humbly.

Serving our God and King is a privilege and an honor. He gave us this gift and He should get the credit every time. Break free today from Facebook and Twitter, the modern day writer’s must do’s and have to’s. Sit down and write for His glory. Serve God with your words and experience His abundant joy standing in the wings. Remember, it’s God who should always be center stage.

Joanne Kraft was featured on today’s Family Life program. You can listen to Joanne’s interview here.

Joanne Kraft is a recovering too-busy mom and the author of Just Too Busy—Taking Your Family on a Radical Sabbatical. A sought-after speaker, Joanne’s articles have been published by Chicken Soup for the Soul, Thriving Family, In Touch, ParentLife and more. She’s appeared on Focus on the Family, Family Life Today,  CBN News and more.

A fourth generation Californian, Joanne now makes her home in the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee with her husband Paul and their four children.