I order most of my books off of Amazon. One, it’s the cheapest out there and two if you order over $25 worth of stuff, you get free shipping. So, last week I went online to order Glenn Beck’s book, “The 7 Wonders That Will Change Your Life” but I needed another book to get me over $25.
Amazon has a wish list that you can save books you want so when I find one I think I’m interested in, I save it so I’ll have some books to choose from when I’m ready to order.
One book I saved was one mentioned in Sarah Palin’s new book, America by Heart, called Somewhere More Holy by Tony Woodlief.
God knows what I’m struggling with and at this point in my life he also knows exactly what to put in my hands. It was these two books.
Somewhere More Holy is a book about Tony’s life. He lost his first child when she was 3 to a brain tumor and he dealt with it by cheating on his wife. It’s about how he was broken and through God’s grace his marriage was saved and him and his wife are now raising 4 boys.
I can’t imagine ever burying a child (it’s both me and my husband’s worst nightmare). This book will make you cry and laugh.
At one point last night, Tony tells the story of not wanting to play with his daughter because he was watching a basketball game before he knew she was sick and the guilt and shame he feels over it. “I was unable to see how the things we love can banish like breath.” Then, the next page, “she (his daughter) forgave everything, and so does God, and that the only person still keeping accounts is me.” P.48-49
I looked up at my two youngest children who were playing happily on the floor with dolls and cars and started balling.
You see, I tend to think sometimes I’m a bad mother. I think I don’t spend enough time with them. I tend to think I could be better. I tend to think I am scarring my kids for life with all my junk. I even think I am unworthy of them.
This book will make you feel like you’re not alone, remind you how God does forgive and how much He does love, and make you see how important your family truly is because one day they may be taken from you.
It’s not an easy read but I got up this morning and couldn’t put it down until I finished it.
“I think it’s time to just accept it (the love of his wife), to accept the love of these children and this God I don’t understand.” P.201
I have been moved more in the last five days than I have been in a long time. Moved to deal with my past. Moved to accept it. Moved to follow my true north. Moved to follow God’s. Moved to be all God has called me to be, to be more like Jesus but to know I will stumble in the process. And moved to love and to accept love. And to know all things work together for my good.
I cannot recommend either of these books enough, especially if you think you have more to give to this world and something is hindering your progress. I guarantee you will learn something. You may even be moved like I am to see what’s important in this world and what is not and to pray for the will and fortitude to make life changes for the betterment of all.