Shannon here: Paula K. Parker shares insight she gained from her husband’s acting profession. Comment or answer the question in any post dated April 4th – 16th to enter the drawing for an ebook copy of her Historical Biblical Fiction title, If I Perish: A Queen’s Sacrifice, plus 3 other books. Deadline: April 25th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Paula:
YOURS? MINE?
My husband is a man of many talents; one is being a professional actor. He considers acting to be a hobby which happens to pay.
He has told me about many interesting stories from being on set. One thing that struck me is a simple conversation he has heard among the technical crew.
When Techie A is handing a piece of equipment to Techie B, Techie A will ask, “Yours?” to which Techie B will respond, “Mine.”
It’s important to note that Techie B only responds, “Mine,” once he has a solid grasp on the piece of equipment being handed to him. It’s at that point, when Techie B responds, “Mine,” that Techie A will release her grip on the piece of equipment.
This back-and-forth conversation is only used when the technical crew is handling expensive equipment, such as lights, camera, lenses, things which cost thousands—or often tens of thousands—of dollars. It’s a way each tech person states they realize the value of what they are being entrusted with and are ready to take care of it. That simple, two-word conversation carries great power, understanding, and responsibility.
What if this simple question and answer were used at other times? Would it make a difference in how we treat situations in life?
Such as the moment when a baby takes his first breath. God looks at the parents and asks, “Yours?” Would the parents understand the weightiness of their responsibility of loving this child, of sacrificing for this child, of raising this child, before answering, “Mine”?
Fast-forward several years. A child goes to her first day of school. The parent looks at the teacher and asks, “Yours?” Would the teacher realize how important it is to not only present knowledge, but also to empower the child with a thirst for learning, before answering, “Mine”?
Fast-forward a decade. A teenager is hired at his first job. The parent looks at the employer and asks, “Yours?” Would the employer realize his responsibility is to not only make a profit, but to set an atmosphere in the workplace where this young man can learn to be a valued member of the company, before answering, “Mine”?
Fast-forward another ten years or so. A young woman, dressed in a white dress, walks down the aisle to stand by a young man. Two sets of parents look at the person standing by their own child and ask, “Yours?” Would this young couple realize the solemn weight of, “for better, for worse; for richer and for poorer; in sickness and in health, until death do us part,” before answering, “Mine”?
Fast-forward many decades. A woman is sitting by a hospital bed, holding the hand of the man she loves. She looks up at the heavens and asks, “Yours?”
Now. Here is the one time when the other Person, the Creator of the Universe, the One Who created and loves both the person lying in the bed and the one holding his hand; this Person understands the weight of the question. He alone can take that precious soul to His bosom and look into the eyes of the wife saying goodbye to her husband and say, “Mine.”
Reader Question: Other than reading the Bible, praying or being in church, what makes you feel the nearness of God on a daily basis?
April Book Bundle #1
The Cowboy’s Missing Memory by Shannon Taylor Vannatter, Contemporary Romance, print
If I Perish by Paula K. Parker, Biblical Fiction, digital
Romantic Rondezvous for the Soul by Ashley Thompson, Christian Romance, PDF Download
Listen for the Chickadees by Terri Wangard, World War II Fiction, print
About Paula: Paula K. Parker is a Pulitzer Prize nominee, award-winning, best-selling, and internationally acclaimed author, playwright, magazine writer, entertainment writer, devotional writer, curriculum writer, and corporate copywriter. She writes books, articles, plays, reviews, curriculum, and inspirational devotions. Paula lives near Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband Mike, who is also a writer, a professional actor, and a filmmaker.
Her biblical novel, IF I PERISH; A Queen’s Sacrifice reached multiple best-selling charts and was nominated for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize and was a Finalist in the 2025 Storytrade Book Awards. Her biblical novel, THE CARPENTER AND HIS BRIDE; The Birth of Hope, also reached multiple best-selling charts and won the Bronze Level in the Inspirations Christian Book Awards. Her biblical Sisters of Lazarus trilogy—BEAUTY UNVEILED, GLORY REVEALED, and GRACE EXTENDED—reached multiple best-selling charts. Learn more & connect:
Paula’s Website Paula’s Author Facebook
Paula’s Facebook Paula’s Instagram
About the book – If I Perish: A Queen’s Sacrifice:
She was an orphan. She was an outcast. She was the queen of the most powerful empire the world had ever seen. And she was born…For such a time as this.
A bold new retelling of the Story of Esther by Pulitzer Prize nominee Paula K. Parker.
Haddasah was born into a loving, wealthy Jewish family in the Persian Empire’s capital city of Susa. But before she even comes of age her world is swept away by events over which she has no control. Her parents murdered, she is left with only one living relative, her much older cousin, Mordecai, who shelters her as his own daughter. Just when life regains a semblance of normality, on the eve of her betrothal, she is taken against her will into the King’s harem, where she assumes a new name and is admonished to never speak of her family or heritage.
Over the course of a year, she had become an orphan and an outcast. Yet even here she is destined to serve the purposes of God. As Mordecai prophesied, she was born for such a time as this.
Worried you won’t win the drawing? Interested in Paula’s other titles? Need extra books for gifts?
Get your copy/copies now!
If I Perish – barnesandnoble If I Perish – Amazon
If I Perish – books2read If I Perish – Autographed
Come back April 11th for Shannon’s Book Bargains Roundup!
I feel the nearness of God on a daily basis in the beauty of the flowers, the sunshine or the rain, and the blessing that is my family. All of these things are ones I consider a gift from the Lord.
Shelley, I agree! These are the same things I love!
I love Biblical fiction! Esther was the first book of the Bible I read through as a young girl, so she has a special place in my heart.
To be honest, for years, I considered Esther’s story to be so sad. Then, a dear friend told me I needed to pray about writing her story. I started praying, reading the book in the Bible repeatedly, and researching the Jewish and Persiah history,archeology and cultural of that time. I learned so many things I have never heard before. Many of these went into writing IF I PERISH.
God’s nearness is often felt in everyday moments – through nature, kindness from others, worship music, and quiet stillness. It can show up as peace, guidance, or perfectly timed encouragement. Even in ordinary situations, God reminds me He is present, caring, and actively involved in our lives.
Natalya, what a beautiful thought!
Devotions, reading Christian fiction and non-fiction, listening to and singing worship music.
Kelly, those are some of my favorites, too!