Category Archives: spirituality
A Slow Death
As I gazed at the landscape that was once plush green, thoughts ricocheted like bullets in my mind.
I wondered how leaves changed from being green to brown, orange, red and yellow.
They change and transform by a slow death.
Courtesy of Creative Commons
The result is from the breakdown of chlorophyll, due to the changes in the length of daylight and temperature. The leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their splendor.
God is the master artist weaving a beautiful tapestry in nature with the ebb and flow of leaves, seasons, tides, births and deaths.
Watching the leaves turn reminds me of God’s power and my fragility, His strength and my weakness, His immortality and my mortality.
In reality, we are all fallen leaves, dying a slow death.
“For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:17
Perennials by Julie Cantrell
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 14, 2017)
Price: $15.99
Purchase: Amazon | BN
Description
Eva Sutherland—known to all as Lovey—grew up safe and secure in Oxford, Mississippi, surrounded by a rich literary history and her mother’s stunning flower gardens. But a shed fire, and the injuries it caused, changed everything. Her older sister, Bitsy, blamed Lovey for the irreparable damage. Bitsy became the homecoming queen and the perfect Southern belle who could do no wrong. All the while, Lovey served as the family scapegoat, always bearing the brunt when Bitsy threw blame her way.
At eighteen, suffocating in her sister’s shadow, Lovey turned down a marriage proposal and fled to Arizona. Free from Bitsy’s vicious lies, she became a successful advertising executive and a weekend yoga instructor, carving a satisfying life for herself. But at forty-five, Lovey is feeling more alone than ever and questioning the choices that led her here.
When her father calls insisting she come home three weeks early for her parents’ 50th anniversary, Lovey is at her wits’ end. She’s about to close the biggest contract of her career, and there’s a lot on the line. But despite the risks, her father’s words, “Family First,” draw her back to the red-dirt roads of Mississippi.
Lovey is drawn in to a secret project—a memory garden her father has planned as an anniversary surprise. As she helps create this sacred space, Lovey begins to rediscover her roots, learning how to live perennially in spite of life’s many trials and tragedies.
Years ago, Lovey chose to leave her family and the South far behind. But now that she’s returned, she’s realizing things at home were not always what they seemed.
* * * Vlog Review: https://youtu.be/fAnlK6BkJ0Q ***
Review
I have read every single book written by this author, and I can attest that she is a very talented writer. Like I said in my vlog review above, Julie Cantrell happens to be one of my favorite writers. I loved reading and reviewing all of her books and Perennials was no exception.
Although I would not classify this book as Christian, Perennials is wholesome, with a meaningful message. If I had to some it up in a few words, I would say it is about love and forgiveness.
My favorite character is Eva, who is also referred to as Lovey. She is the main protagonist whom I liked and related to. This book may be fiction, but it spoke volumes to me about overcoming and starting over.
I was honored to receive an advanced copy of Perennials in exchange for an honest review. Please be sure to preorder your copy now. You won’t be disappointed.
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, Julie Cantrell is known for writing inspirational novels that explore the hard truths women typically keep secret. While she delves into emotional issues, she does so with a compassionate and open heart, always bringing readers through to a hopeful path for peace, empathy, and healing.
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