Our Words—A Weapon
By Maureen Miller
Late in the afternoon… So begins Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Confession: I’ve never read it. I
share this, not because I’m ashamed but, rather, I’m surprised. After all, as
the mother of a brown-skinned boy whom we homeschooled, with this classic on my
shelf since receiving it from my mom in 2006, you’d think I’d have cracked its
cover.
Recently, I did. Pulled that book
out and dusted it off. My curiosity was piqued after reading a biography of its
author. A small portion of Stowe’s story was tucked among the pages of my study
Bible.
It was a Sunday morning. As I sat
on our front porch, I randomly opened to Micah and read. Flipping a page, there
was the bio, not far from these words—But as for me, I am filled with
power—with the Spirit of the Lord.
I am filled with justice and strength to boldly declare [a nation’s] sin and
rebellion (3:8 NLT).
Did you know in 2018, Uncle
Tom’s Cabin was named the second most influential story in the shaping of
our world’s history?
Let that sink in. Not our nation—our
world! But something else struck—Harriet believed the adage about the pen
being mightier than the sword (Courage for Life Study Bible for Women,
Tyndale House Publishers, 2023—p. 1155.)
That’s why I pulled Stowe’s book
off the shelf and cracked its cover. If its author believed the written word to
be a powerful weapon, if others deemed Uncle Tom’s Cabin influential enough
to shape—yes, change—the world, then I’d do well to read it too.
As Christian writers, called to
share God’s messages in troubling, dark times, we’re equipped with power—filled
with God’s Spirit and, thus, armed not only with a Sword (Ephesians 6:17) but
with the weapon of our words.
But what to write? When
asked a similar question concerning Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Stowe gave God
credit, stating the inspiration for her novel derived in part from what He’d
allowed in her life.
Though not African, nor a slave,
she suffered the loss of her eighteen-month-old son to cholera. This, as well
as witnessing African mothers separated from children at slave markets, stirred
empathy, causing her to press in to the heart of her Savior. To hear from Him. Be
filled by Him. And then, to write for Him, even though her words stirred
controversy.
So is true for us. Whether our
words weave themselves into fiction or nonfiction— bound in books or other
printed forms or scrolled through online—our personal experiences, guided by
the gracious hand of our Father, are powerful weapons.
But the question remains: Are we
courageous enough to write them? To face ridicule by those who disagree? To be
disliked, rejected even, because our Spirit-inspired messages convict?
My mom wrote an inscription on the
inside cover of Uncle Tom’s Cabin almost two decades ago. Under the
title she penned,“… has become a story for your family too.”
And therein lies truth regarding
the potential influence of words. Because personal story, framed first by the
greatest Story ever written, is a weapon. With the Sword in one hand and a pen
in the other, we can get started.
Yes, our words can change the world!
Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and Brett Jordan.
Maureen Miller—wife, mother of three, and Mosie to three—lives on Selah Farm, a hobby homestead nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. With a passion for God’s Word, Maureen is an award-winning author and photographer, contributing as a guest blogger and to several online devotion sites, as well as to a variety of collaboratives. She prays to have eyes and ears open that she might experience God in the miracles of His created world and blogs weekly about what He has to say at www.penningpansies.com. Her debut novel is under contract with Redemption Press.
Beautiful inspiration, Maureen. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. Be blessed!
DeleteI love this, Maureen. It's a great reminder to me to keep Jesus in my sight and keep writing.
ReplyDeleteYes! Eyes on Jesus! Always! 🩵
ReplyDelete