Writing a Message: Morals and Lessons

Every child grows up hearing the fable of 'The Tortoise and the Hare' by Aesop. You know...the story where very determined tortoise competes in a race with a very fast but haughty and over confident hare.

As the race begins, the hare speeds way ahead leaving the tortoise in the dust. In the middle of the race, because the hare believes he will easily win, he stops to take a nap. The tortoise though moving very slowly, passes him and wins. 

Which gives us the very famous moral...'Slow and steady wins the race.'

Old fables and children's stories often have a moral at the end which teach valuable life lessons. In these stories, the morals are usually very obvious.

As adults, we often read fiction for pure entertainment. Romance novels, action and suspense, adventure, fantasy...they all draw us into exciting, compelling stories, allowing us to escape from our own hectic lives into the lives of other characters . 

But what makes a story more than just entertaining and engaging writing, is the lessons the reader can take away from what they've just read. When I set down a book feeling motivated to grow and be a stronger individual, I know that it was a really good book.

When it comes to Christian fiction, if the story tends to be full of cliches, mentioning God a few times here and there without showing the true impact of His love and grace, I feel as if the reader just walks away with a fun story. I know some authors tend to be careful about coming across as preachy. 

But the books that put emphasis on the characters battling faith through hurt and the painful challenges of life, then finally surrendering their burdens to God, and seeing His hand work in amazing ways...do not only change the life of the characters, but the readers as well.

The books I can remember most are the ones that have helped me grow in my walk with God, and have encouraged me to write stories with impacting morals and lessons. 

Whether the moral of your story is 'Slow and steady wins the race', 'Being smart is better than being beautiful', 'Good always wins', etc...if it teaches a lesson that you have learned in your own life, and is something you can't help but sharing, the story will be much more than just a story.

Ask God to give you wisdom and strength as you put together a story that isn't just convicting. But a story that reveals His ways and teaches of His mercies and kindness even amidst a hurting and broken world.

I know it's easy to get caught up in trying to write something that your readers will enjoy. Instead, try to imagine what it would be like to find out your story helped someone. Truly helped them. Whether it convicted them to make the right decision, comforted them, or maybe just reminded them they are not alone. 

That, dear writers, makes a story much more powerful, personal, and worthwhile. <3