A Brookhaven woman has taken her devotion to her faith as theinspiration to write a book that provides food for the soul.

Ruth Waldrop, 70, released her book of daily devotionalsentitled “Cast They Bread Upon the Water” last month.

The title, she said, came from a friend who was quotingscripture when she said Waldrop had decided to “cast her bread uponthe water” when learning of her literary endeavor.

“It is a daily devotional that’s also listed as a Bible studyguide by the bookstores,” Waldrop said. “It focuses on spiritualgrowth and praising Jesus.”

Waldrop, who taught Sunday School from the age of 17 until shequit about 18 months ago, said the book was actually written in1997 and 1998.

“We typed it for publication but it took a while to get apublisher,” she said.

Waldrop’s daughters, Teresa Nix and Pam Waldrop, came up withthe idea of publishing her writings and convinced her to give atry, she said. After she gave the OK, the daughters begancontacting publishers.

Nix said she eventually found Tate Publishing and “they got backto me real quick and said they would be interested in publishingit.”

Tate Publishing picked up the book on Dec. 23, 2004.

The company has also requested the rights to a second bookshould this one do well, Nix said.

“She has some more writings that could be used for a secondbook,” Nix said.

Waldrop said she never really expected her writings to bepublished.

“I don’t think I ever expected it to become a book when I firststarted writing,” she said. “A scripture would come to me, most ofthe time in the early morning, and I would meditate on it.”

Waldrop kept a notepad close by to record her mediations andthose writings eventually led to the book copy, she said.

“It feels wonderful to be an author, but I can’t take thecredit,” she said. “The Holy Spirit impressed onto my heart towrite these things down so it’s not only me, it’s also Him.”

Waldrop said her favorite devotionals featured in the book stemfrom her thoughts on Psalm 23.

“Any of those devotionals would have to be my favorites,” shesaid. “I think it showed David’s relationship with the Lord. Davidjust expressed it so well. It’s just marvelous.”

“Cast Thy Bread Upon the Waters” is available locally atBrookhaven Christian Book Store and can be ordered nationwidethrough any book store or on the internet through Amazon.com.