I’ve never had a baby, but I just had a book. Through a series of circumstances so unlikely they could only be God’s handiwork, there’s a box of cream-and-green colored, freshly minted books under my dining room table this morning – and every single one of them has a name on its spine that I’ve been spelling since grade school. My own.

Someone asked this past weekend how long it took me to write this book. I hesitated. Because the answer is either 70 days or 20 years, depending on how you look at it. And although I’m delighted that it’s here…I’m also a little sheepish and shy to say much about it. Like every new parent must realize at some point, although I’m largely responsible for getting it here, I can’t claim ownership, or even take sole credit for the best parts of it. In many ways it’s better than me, and, God willing, it will have a life of its own that’s beyond me.

Like anything worth the doing, “having a book” is risky. I’m “outed” on its pages. It’s my life that I write from – not anyone else’s. It’s my heart that’s exposed, my thoughts that can now be easily examined, my weaknesses that are expressed. If there’s any awkwardness about it, it’s my awkwardness – and if there’s any weak thinking, it’s no longer private.

So why am I telling you?

Two reasons. First, because two dear friends insisted that the people who receive Wednesday words each week would want to know about it (and threatened to hijack my list and tell you themselves if I didn’t.) And second, because as scary as it is to have a piece of your self in print, I want this book to go places that I cannot – and to do that, I have to let it go.

It’s the same for anyone who wants to leave something behind.

Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.” (John 12:24-25, NASB)

King Solomon wrote “Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1, NASB)

In the wilderness of Sinai God said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in my instruction.” (Exodus 16:4, NASB)

And in the upper room, just hours before his death, Jesus “…took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it; and gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it; this is My body.’” (Mark 14:22, NASB)

In not one instance recorded here did anyone keep their bread. Maybe ours is not for keeping, either.

So here’s a little bread – from me to you. I’m letting it go, and I hope you enjoy.

Moments for Singles by Leigh McLeroy, NavPress 2004.

© Leigh McLeroy 2004