This is a wonderful story. It is in the category of Christian fiction. While it is a Christian book it is not preachy. The characters are flawed and the main character, Teal, is in need of forgiveness - while she believes in Christ as her savior she doesn't recognize that through Him her sins are forgiven and therefore she can now finally forgive herself for the mistakes she made. The book speaks to second chances - those second chances we are granted when we learn to accept the free gift of God's forgiveness.
The author penned a note in the back of the book - she says " Our beings echo with our experiences, with voices of other people, with our perspectives. We live out all of these, whether they are truth of lies. Sometimes we can't tell the difference." (p. 347) Oh how true this is. We, often believe ourselves to be something other than what God intended for us to be. I know that I was picked on alot in school growing up - and through that I believed I was worth less and not as good as the 'cool kids'. It affected my entire self esteem and it wasn't until I was in college - and through a friend met Christ - that I realized my self worth came because I was a child of God and He loved me. Loved me enough to die for my sins. That is powerful.
The book speaks to living in TRUTH in all aspects of our lives. In one part, Teal has not told her daughter who her biological father is because she is afraid of what others will think of her, afraid of the reactions of others and afraid of the bio-dad's reaction when he learns. Her sister believes she needs to face the truth, tell the truth and live in the truth - no matter how difficult that is - as that is the only way to be free from the hurts of the past. My favorite quote from the book is when Lacey tells Teal, "Hon, my cancer wasn't good news, but it was truth. Without the truth, we would all have to live like turtles -- in a shell, always protecting ourselves, hiding from others." (p. 307)
How often do we humans try to hide from truth - because it is too difficult to face our sins, to face the hurt of our actions and ultimately to face God - and know He is disappointed in us. So we hide - hide the truth, hide from ourselves and even try to hide from God. Yet, He knows all and sees all. We can't hide. Only by bringing the sin out into the light can we be free from its hold on us. It takes courage and God's strength to do it --- but if we ask Him He will gladly help us. I have a family member who is hiding from God, hiding her sin and others who enable her to continue to do so. I pray that she will break free of the hold the sin has on her and turn to God who loves her and wants her to come home. The truth will always set us free. I pray that she will come to know the Lord as her savior and realize He will forgive her sins -- all she has to do is ask.
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