He had been successful as an illustrator for advertising and didn’t need to branch out, but he loved funny illustrations and wanted books to go with them. So he wrote a kids book about his hometown and began to send it to publishers. One after another sent rejection notices. This was not something he was used to in his career, but he kept at it until he decided that he probably ought to move on to something else. He would send his book to the 27th publisher and promised himself that if he got rejected once more…he would burn the manuscript and forget about children’s books. He got that 27th rejection and as he was walking away from the office he happened to run into a buddy of his from college. They began to talk and his friend asked what he was carrying. The author told him the story, and his friend said that he had just been hired as part of the executive staff of a publisher and asked if he could have the manuscript. The author had no more use for it and gave it up willingly. This company looked at the book and saw the potential and bought it! He was going to give up after 27 tries, but the 28th took the first and most of the rest of Theodor’s writings. He used a pen name for all the
books that he had come up with in college and so they all were written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss. That first book was one of many and as of now, more than 600 million books have been published. Theodor Geisel…Dr. Seuss was at the point of giving up…when his answer came on the city street. I thought about perseverance and the discouragement that comes when things don’t work out like we want them to. Jesus knew that people, even people who had great confidence in God would sometimes get discouraged and feel like they should just “burn” their prayers and forget it. In the Gospel of Luke he tells a story to illustrate the need to keep on praying. But when Luke recounts that story he introduces it with the line… “Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart…” That’s key to our praying. God says in his Bible that he hears us…but there are times when it seems to us that we are just talking to a blank wall. God promises that he is listening…but he reminds us that he has his will and his plan…and his timing. He asks us to trust him and to keep praying…and not give up. So, remember Dr. Seuss and what he might have missed and what we might have missed if he hadn’t met that friend on the street as he was about to give up. Keep praying, because one day God just might let you see what your willingness to not quit brought about for you and maybe for people you love and perhaps even for people you will never meet on this earth. Pray at all times…and don’t lose heart…here’s our Bible verse for today…
Luke 18:1 BSB “Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart…”
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ
books that he had come up with in college and so they all were written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss. That first book was one of many and as of now, more than 600 million books have been published. Theodor Geisel…Dr. Seuss was at the point of giving up…when his answer came on the city street. I thought about perseverance and the discouragement that comes when things don’t work out like we want them to. Jesus knew that people, even people who had great confidence in God would sometimes get discouraged and feel like they should just “burn” their prayers and forget it. In the Gospel of Luke he tells a story to illustrate the need to keep on praying. But when Luke recounts that story he introduces it with the line… “Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart…” That’s key to our praying. God says in his Bible that he hears us…but there are times when it seems to us that we are just talking to a blank wall. God promises that he is listening…but he reminds us that he has his will and his plan…and his timing. He asks us to trust him and to keep praying…and not give up. So, remember Dr. Seuss and what he might have missed and what we might have missed if he hadn’t met that friend on the street as he was about to give up. Keep praying, because one day God just might let you see what your willingness to not quit brought about for you and maybe for people you love and perhaps even for people you will never meet on this earth. Pray at all times…and don’t lose heart…here’s our Bible verse for today…
Luke 18:1 BSB “Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart…”
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ