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This past week I read The Cowboy Tutor, a Love Inspired Historical by fellow Canadian author Linda Ford. It’s the first of a three book series, releasing January to March, about how a mother helps her three daughters find husbands during the Great Depression.
I have never read a Linda Ford book that I haven’t liked, and this book was no exception. I read it in one sitting, staying up until 1:30 am to finish it!
From a family of three sisters myself, I enjoyed watching the interplay between the three vastly different personalities. But what resonated with me the most was how firmly the heroine believes that God will see her through every crisis in her life.
She works hard, extremely hard, to keep her family together and from losing their home. Considering the world’s current economic situation, our faith is increasingly being challenged by similar crises.
Your Turn: These characters lived during the Great Depression. Times were tough. What similar challenges are you or people you know facing today? How have these strengthened, or made you question, your faith?
Did you live through the depression or hear stories passed down from parents and grandparents?
I remember many stories my grandmother used to tell, and to this day I have a difficult time parting with clothes or fabric that could be recycled into quilts for the day when we can’t afford heat…of course, considering we live in a drafty old farmhouse and keep the thermostat at 63F most of the day, it’s little wonder!
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The book you read sounds good.
I heard a lot of depression stories growing up. During the depression, my grandmother got work in a dime store. She had to quit school to work because her father couldn’t get any work. She never went back. She carried the family through on her sacrifice.
Times are hard for a lot of people now. I know a woman who lost her home last year to foreclosure. She and her husband lived out of their car for a month. They never told anyone they were living out of their car.
I believe her faith carried her through.
Wow — new-to-me-author, here I come! There’s not enough time to read everything that’s out there! I need four eyes so I can read two books at once! I wonder if my brain could process that? LOL
I have to say I’ve seen my share of tough times but while I’ve questioned God’s ability to keep my life on track (notice I didn’t question my ability?!), I never lost faith in Him. I’m always like, “Hurry up and show me what I’m supposed to learn from this so this trial can stop now.” Of course it always takes longer than expected (I wonder why that is?) and I obviously still have TONS to learn because those trials aren’t slowing down. I’ve yet to reach the kind of calm that comes from complete acceptance, I guess. Maybe that’s what I am supposed to be learning.
A couple at church are in their nineties and they’ve been married over 70 years. That just boggles my mind. They definitely went through a lot of hard times with unwavering faith.
When they first got married they lived in a silo! No heat or running water and she had three children in diapers!!!! But oh, how she smiles when she shares stories from those times and she always talks about their love and faith and the way folks always helped each other out.
Loree, you’re grandmother sounds a lot like the heroine of this book! What an incredible struggle it must’ve been for the woman you know to cling to her faith going from living in a home to her car.
Yes, Kav, I hope you’ll check out Linda’s books. She’s a sweetie to boot. 🙂 I appreciate your candidness…and as always, it makes me smile. What a fabulous example of enduring faith the couple in your church are. We almost bought a house with a silo…dreamt of making it into a cool studio with spiral steps–somehow, I don’t think that’s how your friend was living!
Sandra,
Thanks for the nice blog. I enjoy writing about the Depression because I find the courage and fortitude of people who faced such challenges an inspiration. I have so much and likely complain more than they did. Shame on me!
Linda
You’re very welcome, Linda. Thanks for stopping by. After writing this post, what should I read today, but…1 Peter 1:7 “These [trials] have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” I hope God’s not trying to prepare me for something!! Well, you know what I mean 🙂
Sounds like a winner!
My mom has told me of growing up during the Depression, but her dad owned a grocery store, so they didn’t have it too bad.
God always comes through, even in the roughest times. It helps me to remind Him of His promises. I’m not disrespectful, just bold. He’s my father; I’m His child. I know He’ll keep His promises to me.
Anxious to read this new author (to me!)!
As Loree said, times are hard for many now. I feel so blessed. Our family’s biggie now is adjusting to the death of our brother, Dec. 25.
The Depression always interests me. Love reading books from that time. I liked Linda’s response as to why she writes stories from that time too. We could learn a lot from the people. After having no power for ten days this past fall, I have a new understanding of what cold feels like. And not just temperature, but the coldness that comes from being disconnected or having your life interupted.
Also, one of my favorite movies as a child was Journey of Nattie Gann (sp?) Remember that. I can see the dark, cold disconnectedness as though I was watching it right now. And I can’ t forget my crush on John Cusack!
Oh, Jackie, my condolences. What a sad day for your family.
Katy Lee, I dare say that you’ll use that experience for years to come to create emotions in your writing! Now I need to go look up that movie. I don’t think I’ve seen it! 🙂
Times are pretty tough these days–like the times during the depression era. My son struggled through a couple years of unemployment, and then hopped around seasonal jobs, or with companies that went under.
This series is well timed!
Aloha, Cheryl
Thanks for this post, Sandra, and I definitely want to read this book (LOVE those historicals! *grin*). ~ I’m certain that it was because my parents experienced the Great Depression, they never wasted anything (and taught their daughters to be the same way). When I think of what some of those folks went through (and how rough some have it now) it makes me aware of how much I DO have—and how very blessed I am. ~ Hugs, Patti Jo p.s. @Jackie S.–you and your family are in my prayers.