Eileen M. Berry

I really enjoyed this book! If anything has characterized our family’s days throughout my life, I’d say they would be Bible reading and music. We enjoy singing together as a family, and also enjoy times when we get together for a sing-along with others. Due to my love of music, I’ve been quite interested in the stories behind some of the songs we sing. So when I saw Frances Ridley Havergal available for review, I was interested in hearing her story.

Though it was written in free verse, which I wondered if I would enjoy, it didn’t end up being a distraction—it added a fun element to the story!

One of my favorite parts of this story is the fact that though it’s not the life story of someone extraordinary, it’s still something many would find easy to read—and would likely be encouraged by. I love that. We have a lot to learn even from those who seem to live ordinary lives, but often we overlook them because of our perception of who we think spiritual giants are. Missionaries and pastors, and perhaps a few elderly people in the church, are those we should look up to as holding the seat of wisdom, right? Well…we can learn from others, too, as becomes clear from this story.

Personally, the thing that inspired me the most was Frances’ struggle to know whether she was saved or not, and the following freedom she found in the hope Christ offers. The songs that came out of the hope she found are beautiful, and I loved the little stories behind each of those songs, as well. I’m sure I’ll never look at “Take My Life” “Like a River Glorious”, or “Who Is on the Lord’s Side?” the same again.

If you would like to know about this ordinary woman with a talent for putting feelings into beautiful poetry, words that touch our hearts, check this book out. It’s a lovely one—with beautiful pictures sprinkled through it, too!

I requested a free review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.… (mehr)