Shades of Blue

I am not one to recommend fiction books....there are so many good books that spur us on to godly living...that those ones seem much more worth writing about and recommending. And, I will still say that if reading is a struggle for you and you'd rather be doing just about anything but sit down with a book...don't even bother to pick up this book...it would be much better for you to "dig into" a book packed with spiritual truths that will help you to walk wisely in the fear of the Lord than the fiction book I am about to recommend.

Okay...with that disclaimer in place...I read a precious book a couple of weeks ago called "Shades of Blue" by Karen Kingsbury. Through a story, the theme of the book was about abortion and the affect it has on those who have them. It brought me to tears and to a deeper level of compassion and care for those who carry the weight of that past choice (and, I have a feeling that cases like that are much more common than are ever shared...maybe over fear that we will reject them or not love them with Christ's love or that they will be forever "tainted" in our eyes...I can't help but wonder how many of our past sins lay buried under layers of fear and guilt over what others would think if they found out...forgetting that God works ALL things together for our good and can use us as instruments of His grace and love to others because of what He has brought us through).

I tend to be a black and white gal (often that makes me a Pharisee, sadly!) who can be quick to see the sin and not care about the sinner or even begin to imagine how that sin has affected their lives. I know from my own life, just how painful the consequences of my sin can be...but often, I don't take the time to see life through the eyes of someone who is facing the consequences of their sin...in the case of this story...aborted their baby or had a hand in helping a girl make those decisions.

This book helped give me those eyes...and I am so thankful that the Lord laid it on Karen's heart to write a book about such a painful subject. If you chose to pick it up at the library or bookstore...don't forget to read her letter at the end of the book. I am thankful that she chose to allow choices she made in her past encourage others in Jesus today!