Books That Changed My Life

 I'm talking to a friend tonight. 

About books. 

Books that changed my life. 

Anyone who knows me knows I'm an avid reader. I'm always reading 3 to 5 books at a time. 

A read aloud with my oldest. 

One with my youngest. 

A book in the Bible. 

A book for church study. 

A book or four for my own research. 

So we are talking about books that shaped our lives in highschool and I realize there are a LOT....

But if I had to narrow it down to just a few, I would say it was these three. 

Rachel's Tears. This is the number one book I would choose if I had to choose one. My Mom was cleaning out the attic in the library of the school she worked at when she tossed this book down to me and told me I could read it. 

I was 12 years old. 

I opened the book that evening, not knowing what to expect. I was horrified as I read about the Columbine Shooting (and subsequently a little scared about going going school when I realized that school shootings were even the slightest possibility). But also,  I was inspired. Inspired by the faith that Rachel seemed to have in God. By what appeared to be gift of prophesy. I never knew what I believed and I never had a mentor to teach me. But that day I knew that I had a deep yearning for God to move in my heart the way that He had in hers. And though I didn't fully understand and I didn't always move forward after, for me, that was where it all began. 

A Child Called It. This book would be #2 on my list because of the reality that it showed me about life and those who need to be loved. About trauma and its effects. And when I met my Husband (just a few years later) I told him that God had revealed to me that we would foster one day and I needed to know he would be okay with that. When the time came, he said yes. Whether or not that was the only time we would foster, I don't know. Either way, this book planted seeds and God created a heart in me that absolutely broke to pieces for children whose parents aren't present for whatever reason. 

Telling Christina Goodbye, #3. A book about death and bad choices. I've not, to this day, truly experienced the loss of a loved one in the sense that most people would think of it. So this book, at a vital time of growth in my life, was the first time I had experienced death. It also taught me about the horrible repercussions that bad choices can bring. It taught me how to draw boundaries on how far I was willing to go with my choices. 

And then I think back to some of the books Big S and I have read over the years. We have been to imaginary lands, explored other countries and cultures, different time periods, experienced tragedies together-had out entire outlook changed and our hearts called to action. 

The #1 book that had changed her life is A Long Walk to Water. Big S was 9 when we read it. It is a true and tragic story about the Sudan Water Crisis. Never in our lives had she thought twice about turning on a faucet or people being so thirsty they would do anything for a drink. But now she is reminded daily that she possesses access to something that so many....do not. And it makes her heart ache. It has caused her to make changes and take action. It has shaped who she is today. And me as well. 

Kisses from Katie, #2. If you ever want to read a book that makes you question what you have accomplished in life, read this one. It planted seeds for a lot of character growth in me and sparked Big S's interest in Mission Work.

My Hands Came Away Red was a recent read for us and I think we are still processing it. The horrors of war. The struggle to have your faith in God during such tumultuous times. And the lack of closure that sometimes looms after an experience. Nothing real or tangible has come from this, but it has created a deep mourning for the crises that some people endure in less developed countries. 

We may not be able to travel far. We may live in only one time period, but we can travel far and wide through books. I am so thankful for what these stories that people have shared have done and are doing in my life. Homeschooling or not, reading aloud will benefit you and your child in so many ways.