I have recently been on a family holiday to visit my husband’s parents. They don’t live in Australia with us and it’s lovely to touch base with them when we can. Whilst we were on our trip, our 17 month old had a stint in hospital due to fever and blisters.
In a country that doesn’t have English as it’s first language and that wouldn’t allow father’s to stay in the hospital with their children, I felt at times out of my depth whilst spending 5 days with our son. Just when it seemed the fever was staying down, our boy broke out in a rash that resulted in us being isolated. My hopes of being discharged were dashed.
Whilst I was waiting for my husband to visit us, I was surprised to hear a familiar worship song coming from the room behind where we were isolated. Based on the activity and the smells, I assumed it was the hospital kitchen. It was a song I knew in English and although the melody was the same, it was a different version and was quite catchy. I commented to my husband about it when he visited and he said it was a French version and he’d heard it too.
I don’t know if it was the radio, a CD or audio files playing but the songs were rarely ones I recognised. And yet, as I needed a reminder to wait on God’s perfect timing – and my husband left and I felt close to tears with frustration – just then, I heard Lauren Daigle’s What You Say of Me. Another Christian song and this time one in a language I understood.
I found myself questioning if Lauren knew that her song was being played on a small island called Rodrigues where English was not the first language. And I got to thinking, as an author – do you know how far your reach is?
I get to see the various countries where my books are purchased each month and it’s exciting to see. But what about the books that are purchased and then posted elsewhere, or loaned out, or available as electronic versions to borrow in a library? You never know where your words may end up or who they will influence – it’s a big (but exciting) responsibility.
