Month: July 2019

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You’ll think of Me, by Robin Lee Hatcher, 2017, Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins)

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You’ll think of Me, by Robin Lee Hatcher

Brooklyn is a single mother of a ten year old girl.  They live a simple life, until suddenly things change for them.  Brooklyn had experienced rejection in her younger years from those who mattered most.  Would she now be able to open her heart to new possibilities?

The author herself grew up without a father, and thinks of a young girl’s need for a dad in her writing.

As in the novel I’m working on, the young single mother sees her child as a gift even though the situation they are in is less than optimal.  In my novel, like this one, the young mother learns to trust again, finding love in the process.

Can you relate to this in any way?  It would be great to see your comments.

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And a Bird Sang, by Diane Bestwick, 2014. Self published.

And a Bird Sang, by Diane Bestwick

Diane Bestwick lived and worked in China for nearly ten years.  She met and befriended many Chinese people and got to know their joys and sorrows and predicaments.  During the years she was there the government had a policy in place that each married couple was to only have one child.  This notion on first appearance may sound like a good idea for a country with a large population and many in poverty. 

In her novel Diane portrays what it was really like for those experiencing this situation.  More than the policy itself, it was the ways in which it was enforced that were so horrific.

The main character already has a son, and has had one abortion in order to follow the policy, but cannot bear to have another abortion.  The novel takes us through the dire straits she finds herself in as she courageously tries to make a way to save her baby.

Here in North America, where we do not face  such a lack of freedom, and political repercussions for things like that, most of us are blissfully unaware of the anguishes people are put through in some parts of the world.  Through reading novels like this we can begin to understand.

Although the protagonist in this book is married, as in my novel the pregnancy is not an acceptable situation in many ways.  Will she find a way to escape a forced abortion?  Also as in my novel, she prays for a solution and then puts her trust in God to guide and care for her and her baby.

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Life

I am thinking about life these days. There is the end of life, and there is the beginning of life.

But life itself, as we know it on this earth, lies in between the beginning and the end.

We have the ancient writings of Moses, constituting the first five books of the Bible and telling the story of creation and the early history of people, especially of the Israelites. Moses recorded the famous Ten Commandments, guiding principles of life and society. He urged the people to follow them in order to prosper.

It was not about obeying a distant and mysterious religion. First and foremost before any list of rules, was to listen to the message in your own heart and soul; God’s very own voice asking for your love.

Moses said, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses… Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! Choose to love the Lord your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, NLT)

He said that this message “is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.” (verse 14)

Our lives on this earth are so short in the scheme of things. If we are lucky enough not to lose our lives in some untimely fashion, we might feel we have lived a full life by the time we get past the middle stages and into retirement, having accomplished some of our goals or desires and therefore feeling fulfilled.

But is reaching goals and desires really what gives meaning to life? Only some people actually get to do that anyway. Moses said it was about loving God. Not about loving each other? We can’t see God, and many even doubt his existence.

And what even is love? It means different things to different people. Is it acceptance or kindness or gushiness or feeling comfortable together? Moses associated loving God with following his guidance and rules for living. Jesus summed up these rules by saying that firstly we need to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength, and secondly (but just as importantly) to love our neighbour as ourselves. (Mark 12:30-31, NLT)

Hmm… “as ourselves”. Well, I feel loved when I have someone who looks out for my well-being. Not necessarily in the same room, or even always in the house with me, because I feel better if I have lots of time alone. Alone with God, that is. God’s Spirit is with me all the time without being intrusive. He is there to talk to, and in the quietness of meditation one can hear his voice too.

And it is the Holy Spirit who brings us good feelings too; those of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22, NLT) Out of those we can really love each other, but more than being about each other we will be relating to God.

Life is often disappointing, and we cannot rely on other people, but if we purpose to love God and trust in him, he will be with us through this life and on into the next, which we catch glimpses of in the Bible as well.

So via con Dios my friend; love him and cling to him through it all, and be to others the way you would like them to be to you. This is the best way to live life.

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A Tapestry of Secrets, by Sarah Loudin Thomas, 2016, Bethany House (Baker Publishing Group)

An artist who designs quilts for display leaves behind her studio in town, along with her lawyer boyfriend who has become too high-pressured and scary, to return home to the farm and care for her grandmother.

She has always dreamt of living back on the family farm and practising her craft. However, in her dream she imagined being married to a farmer. Now she finds herself the primary caregiver for her aging grandmother who has a series of strokes.

Her aunt comes to help, but there is a bitter secret between the aunt and the grandmother. It turns out that the aunt was born out of wedlock. At this point in her life she finally wants to find out who her real father was, and embarks on a search.

Also the little old heritage church that the family attends is in danger of being demolished. Can it be saved? Who will help, and who is to be trusted?

I chose to read this book because, like the book I’m writing, it deals with family, a child born out of wedlock, and the protagonist going through her own soul-searching to sort out what is really important to her.