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By Nikkae Huber I have found it to be true that there exist at least two types of readers. There are those who read all that they can get their hands on for the improvement of their minds. Then there are those who, like myself, delight in the adventures of others’ lives, whether fiction or no, to escape into many various eras and places. In whatever category you may find yourself, Elizabeth Prentiss is sure to captivate your interest, regardless of your age, as she introduces you to her delightful book, Stepping Heavenward. As you begin to dive into this charming work, you will be introduced to a young heroine, by the name of Katie, who desires nothing more than a carefree youth without guidelines or controversy. If you are like me, you will draw a negative conclusion, for many readers dislike Katie for her self-centered and headlong ways. Persevere! Watch as the bud of girlhood blossoms into the mature flower of womanhood and learn from her mistakes along the way. This same selfish Kate grows up before your very eyes to take on the responsibilities of wife and mother. Through the various trials she faces, Kate grows more like her Savior and desires to love and please him with all her heart. You may be wondering how such a transformation can take place. I will give you the simple answer — you must read the book! However, I will also comment that the great God who has created and redeemed will also purify a spotless image for His glory. If you were to begin keeping a record of His work in your life, you would soon find, in the years to come, amazing reformations taking place within you as well. Throughout Katie's life, she learns what it means to love her Lord and strive for holiness. When she is young, she tries, in her own strength, to love her Savior, but is ashamed to say that she does not. Like many of us, Kate has in her mind the ideals of a perfect life which she concludes will make her happy. She desires all struggles to be gone forever and bliss to reign supreme. What she comes to discover is that true joy comes from Christ, and the lessons we learn from our trials make us what we will become. Though it is the Lord that ultimately receives the glory for the work done within His children's lives, He often puts others in our paths to guide us along the way. Our heroine possessed one of these godly mentors in the form of her mother. However, Kate only begins to grasp the blessing of her mother's wise counsel when near disaster threatens to destroy her future. Mrs. Mortimer walks closely with her Savior and often falls on her knees in prayer for her headstrong daughter. When Kate is young, she feels that her mother's correction is an attack upon her when in reality Mrs. Mortimer desires to help Kate grow to be more like Christ. After confronting her on a certain issue, and receiving a reaction from her daughter, Mrs. Mortimer simply states that many others will see our faults, but only a mother will have the courage to speak of them to her child. As Katie's relationship deepens with her Lord, it also blossoms with her mother and she soon looks at her through the eyes of admiration. We read this statement at the close of her journal followed by a poem, "If I am to have yet more [years], thanks be to Him who has given me the victory, that life will be Love. Not the love that rests in the contemplation and adoration of its object: but the love that gladdens, sweetens, solaces other lives. My God! how can it be That Thou, who hast discerning love, Shouldest give that gift to me? How many hearts thou mightest have had More innocent than mine! How many souls more worthy far Of that sweet touch of Thine? Oh, grace! into unlikeliest hearts It is thy boast to come, The glory of Thy light to find In darkest spots a home. Oh, happy, happy that I am! If thou canst be, O faith, The treasure that thou art in life What wilt thou be in death?” I have found that the character Mrs. Prentiss paints for us in the form of Katie seems so real it is difficult to believe that this book is purely fiction. But as we all know, books of fiction must have an author, which causes me to wonder if in fact this story stems from her own experience. Whatever the case may be, Mrs. Prentiss wrote an excellent story which can best be summed up in it's very title. In conclusion, I have to give Mrs. Prentiss much credit for her creativity in expressing many biblical views within the context of one woman's quest to please her Lord. This book, with all its practical advice, is sure to inspire its readers for years to come as they continue Stepping Heavenward. |