Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Lamplighter

As you know, I love to read! I also love to give books as gifts and quite a few of the books on my shelves have been inspirations for gifts. Although I have yet to give The Lamplighter by Maria S. Cummins as a gift, I know I can give it to, or recommend it, to someone with great excitement! It is among my favorite Lamplighter books and is one I can re-read with relish!

Gerty has been raised by a woman who cares nothing for her and there is no one who shows her any care or love. One evening she is turned out of the house and the kind Lamplighter takes her in. She soon finds herself surrounded in a new and wholesome atmosphere where she is pointed to the loving God. As Gerty gets older she learns to yield her passionate temper to the Lord and allow His will to be worked out in her life. Through many different circumstances Gerty learns to give to others even if it means that she gets nothing in return with the example of blind Miss. Emily is one that is forefront in her mind.
What makes this story so endearing to me, is to see a young girl who has had "the bad qualities" cultivated in her "previous" life yet when she yielded herself to the Lord and let Him take control of her passions, He was able to turn her into a beautiful young woman. You will experience with Gerty the battle that she fought when wronged and yet she chose not to pursue vengeance; you will feel the sting of hurt with her as her intentions are misunderstood, willfully it seems; and you will learn that the actions of others are not necessarily what they seem. A wonderful, almost a surprise, ending rounds this delightful book off.
As I read, I saw myself in so many areas of this book but felt hope in knowing that the Lord can, and will, have the victory if I but yield to Him.

8 comments:

Sarah said...

We have this book too, Ashley! I very much enjoyed and appreciated it! It is also one of my Mom's favorites of the Lamplighters that she has read. :) Don't you just love the ending?!

Anonymous said...

It sounds like a really good book, Ashley! Thanks for all the book reviews you are giving... when you reccomend them, I know they will be good wholesome books, and that I should check into them! Mom is looking into getting some of the ones you have mentioned. :-)

Nanny Ree said...

Sounds like a good book ~ I will check it out. I have never heard of these books over her but I'm sure I can source it!! Have a blessed day Marie x

Ashley said...

Sarah~ I thought you had probably read this book and I'm thrilled to hear that you really enjoyed it! :o) Oh yes, I love the ending! It makes all of Gerty's heartache worth it!

Lydia~ Thank you for your sweet comment; it was a real encouragement.
Your Mom is checking into some of these books??! That's Terrific Lydia! I know you will enjoy and be challenged by them!

Marie~ Welcome to my blog! I hope you have luck in finding the book! It's a real jem!
~Ashley

Anonymous said...

Ashley,
I have never commented on a blog before, so bear with me!!!! I also have this book and I dearly love it. Gerty's character was truly an inspiration to me. It is a great book to read again and again as it is so convicting!

Nanci Pelc
(Sarah and Leah's mom)

Ashley said...

Thank you for your comment Mrs. Pelc!
I have to agree with you on Gerty's character being an inspiration. It puts with-in me the desire to become more Christlike in every area. This is one book that I wish I had read years ago (had I been open to recieving it's message).
Ah yes, it's a book whose message becomes more and more clear each time you read it! I love it!
~Ashley

Maiden4Christ said...

Dear Ashley,
I have read this book and greatly enjoyed it.(I hardly ever read a book I don't enjoy, unless it's my math book, lol)
I hope we can see each other soon!!!

Bethany Francostein

Ashley said...

You don't enjoy reading your math book Bethany??! What a surprise!!! ;o)
I know my dear mother echos your last phrase with all her heart..."I hope we can see each other soon!!!"
Say, we watched Cranford twice in a week!! The first time we consumed the whole thing in one evening!! Collin even stayed up to watch it so it must have been good!
~Ashley