On one of the sites my books are posted, there is a place where people share what book they are currently reading along with the titles and ratings of books they have read before. I said, "Oh, no," when I saw that someone who also reads books labeled as pornography was reading my novel, As if They Always Knew.
I'm more likely to get a bad rating from a reader who is comfortable with books that contain cursing and descriptive sexual content. (If you're familiar with my novels or short stories, you know that my books are not preachy but they are not sexually titilating or vulgar either.)
I advertise my books as, "Books you can trust with your heart." I believe we need to be careful about what we allow to be planted in the garden of our hearts. If I've learned anything in life, it is that we truly do reap what we sow.
However, a few days later when I checked the site, I was happily surprised to see that the reader had given my book 3 stars!
But then, after a little soul-searching, I was ashamed of myself because the most important thing is not whether I get a good review but whether I have a chance to let God speak to someone's heart through the writing He has allowed me to do. I had been looking for stars and praise when I should have been praying that a lost heart was hearing God's calling.
I had to bow my head and thank God for the opportunity He gave me to reach others for Him and I prayed that the reader who liked my book would find themselves longing for the things of God. So, I'd like to add a verse to that children's song: Be careful little heart what you seek. Be careful little heart what you seek. For the Father up above is looking down in love. Be careful little heart what you seek.
It's God's review I must be careful to care about most!
And that's the view from this catbird seat...
Luke 10: 38-42
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 40But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 41But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”