It’s Okay to Be Simple by Donna Mumma

It’s Okay to Be Simple

by Donna Mumma

“The entrance of your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple”

(Psalm 119:130, NKJV).

As a child, I had a gray tabby cat with four white feet named Boots. Her bones stuck out. Her eyes were too large for her face. She meowed like rusty door hinges combined with fingernails scraping a chalkboard.

She lacked the wily cat-smarts all the other felines on our farm possessed. This was most evident when she climbed my mother’s rain tree, which grew next to our house. When Boots scaled to the top of that tree, the branches bent under her weight, allowing her to jump onto the roof of our screened-in porch. Once there, she’d forget how to get down. She’d howl until I got the ladder out, climbed up on the roof and rescued her. On many occasions, she and I repeated this process several times throughout the day.

I’d lose my patience with Boots and grouch at her for being so silly and wasting my time. Once we returned to the ground, I groused and tried to ignore her. But she’d demand cuddles until I sat and she could crawl onto my lap. Even with her lack of smarts, the simple act of my rescues spoke volumes of love-messages to her.

The usage of the word simple in this verse doesn’t exclusively refer to someone’s intelligence. It’s a broader definition, encompassing those who are naïve, lack wisdom, or easily influenced.

As Christian writers, we bear the responsibility of delivering God’s deep, profound message. We dig deep into his word to understand the many layers of meaning in his verses. We strive to see the connections between each book and chapter, so we can fully understand and relay the richness of his story.

But sometimes what touches readers most isn’t the deep or profound. It’s the simple.

A personal anecdote of a lesson learned can teach far more than a detailed lecture. A story offering escape from life’s harsh realities can soothe a broken heart. We should never feel ashamed or inadequate because our writing seems easy and uncomplicated when compared to more scholarly works. If a simple approach reaches someone with the message of God’s love and wisdom, and helps them to understand him better, we’ve done what he’s asked us to do.

Dear father, help us to remember that while we may express your message in simple ways, the power of your love and wisdom will shine through. Amen.

Donna Mumma perfected storytelling in her first grade classroom, spinning tales exciting enough to settle a roomful of antsy six-year-olds. She loves to blend history, mystery, and faith in her novels, which include Fresh Scars, The Women of Wynton’s, and First Comes Marriage . . . Then Comes Murder.  A native Floridian, she now lives on the Sunshine State’s west coast, sharing life with her family, and her energetic collie, Duke. Connect with her at www.donnamumma.me., Facebook at Donna Mumma, or Instagram at donnamumma_writer.