Walk Worthy Press: The Taste of Good Fruit by Marita Teague

Author Testimony

Growing up in a rural Midwest town, my parents' love for reading and writing made an indelible impression on my own passion for reading and writing. Soon though, and with little thought, I became a pretty voracious reader. The idea of being swept away from the cornfields and tranquility of Illinois to travel to a far off land or different character in my reading and writing intrigued me. Yet, I never considered writing an obtainable or realistic goal—that was for someone else, someone special.

After graduating with a Master's in English, I began my career teaching college and university level composition. Although I love teaching, there has always been a small, still voice telling me that there was more than the Lord had for me to do. I questioned God as I had taken a leave from my career to be a stay at home mom, looking at my very active two toddler sons at my feet, wondering what He could possibly expect me to do for Him.

Then, in the middle of one pretty ordinary day in 2003, the Lord did something extraordinary in me. He brought pieces of stories that had been running through my mind during years of devastating periods of surprising and tragic losses together like the tapestry in a quilt. With no thought about what I would do with the story, I got on the computer and began typing the first chapter. My heart actually seemed to beat faster while I typed, and the more I typed, the more I believed that just maybe someone could be touched, healed, and delivered though my story. I felt excited and at the same time, a sense of peace, knowing that this was what the Lord had for me to do.

When I completed a good number of chapters, I wondered if a publisher would even be interested in a story like mine. Walk Worthy Press seemed to be the perfect publisher for the story, and the Lord, quite miraculously, opened the door for me to attend a writer's conference with the renowned publisher of Walk Worthy Press, Denise Stinson. After completing my manuscript, I prayed hard and sent it in. I remember silently telling the Lord as I handed the package to the postman, “Open the doors that are supposed to be open, and close the doors that are supposed to be closed.”

Tears of joy swept over me upon the realization that the door had opened for me. I had received confirmation from the Lord. It has taken years of prayer, hard work, and diligence to finish the story, but it really is true; God's timing is perfect.

My publisher, Denise, came up with the title for the story entitled, The Taste of Good Fruit. Initially, I was having trouble connecting the title with the story. Then the Lord showed me how perfect the title really was for the story. The scripture basis for the story is found in John 15:2, which reads, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that bear fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more good fruit.” Through this verse, I found comfort and consolation in a question I had pondered for years: Why do bad things happen to “good” saved people? In The Taste of Good Fruit, I attempt to address some of these reasons.

I am a living witness that when you seek and follow the Lord's will for your life, circumstances, and conditions, He will answer. The Bible says that we are overcome by the words of our testimony, so my testimony is that God used the grief that nearly overwhelmed me to produce good fruit. He has consistently taken the trials, pain, and heartache in my life and turned them into miraculous ways to bear fruit by showing others His mercy, compassion, goodness, and loving-kindness towards us.

I thank God for the awesome privilege to be chosen to do something I love to give Him glory. For the rest of my life, I'll serve Him and thank Him for all the blessings He's bestowed upon me and for opening a door, which I pray will bear fruit for Him.

Marita Teague

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