This book has been on my wish list to read for a very long time. I was so excited to find it trading in a free little library earlier this week. The story is about two people with the same name and circumstances with totally different outcomes. Having mentored and helped kids for two decades I have also seen this happen and can not wait to dive into this story.
UPDATE
I’m finished. What a read this was!!! So much of it was memories that aligned with how the times were when I was a struggling single parent. It paints the huge reality of choice, circumstance. I took away from the book for myself that mentoring really really matters, books matter, fighting for kids to succeed matters more than we imagine. This for me was a reminder to keep on keeping on, it matters. But also is a tale of ‘you never know when your second chance will be your last chance.’
A quote from the book that resonated with me is found on page 168 of the paperback I read:
“The common bond of humanity and decency that we share is stronger than any conflict, any adversity, any challenge. Fighting for your convictions is important. But finding PEACE is paramount. Knowing when to fight and when to seek peace is wisdom. “
At church yesterday our pastor quoted a part of one of my all time favorite prayers and my goal in life. The prayer of St. Francis.
Peace Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Read this book. It will change you.
Book on.
PEACE.
