The Tale Of Two Books

The Tale of Two Books

I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.

Philippians 4:11

One of the most famous opening lines for a book is from A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” And I am sure that line has been used and abused as much as any quotable lines in history.

I have certainly had my ups and downs in the publishing business. Mostly, I have been greatly blessed and have loved the crazy ride, but sometimes the downhill slide has been like a runaway sled on an icy mountain slope.

One day a few years ago, I retrieved my mail from the mailbox and found two royalty statements from different publishers—one for an older book that was going out of print, the other for a new book that had just been released.

The royalty check for the new book, starring Barney the Dinosaur, was for ninety-eight thousand dollars. (The big purple guy should have been green!) I nearly fainted from the shock. I felt as if I had won the lottery.

I eagerly opened the second envelope and pulled out the final royalty payment for the older book, and reality hit full force: It totaled thirty-eight cents. (Can you hear the air gushing out of my tires?)

That is when I started to laugh. The Lord really knows how to tell a joke, doesn’t he? And he surely knows how to keep us humble.

As a constant reminder that I should be content, no matter what my circumstances, I created a framed document titled The Tale of Two Books. At the top is a photocopy of the ninety-eight-thousand-dollar check with the caption “It was the best of times.” And at the bottom is a photocopy of the thirty-eight-cent check with the caption “It was the worst of times.”

Father, I am so grateful for your great generosity, especially when I don’t deserve it. Please help me to be content in all circumstances. Amen.