Every Life Counts
For A Season by Rosemary Hines is a wonderful, heartfelt contemporary Christian story. It is the eighth book in The Sandy Cove series but can be read as a stand-alone.
You will need tissues as you read because For A Season tackles the difficult topic of infant mortality. It is sensitively and beautifully written. Tears will flow but Rosemary Hines presents the hope of Heaven. “I believe that I’ll be running to Jesus.”
God is central to the novel. Life is hard at times. Life without God is awful. God never promised us a trouble free life, quite the opposite. Jesus said “You will have troubles.” Jesus did promise to never leave us alone and He does walk alongside us in our troubles. The family in the novel press into God because they really have nowhere else to go. “We’re taking it one day at a time, and trusting God to do the rest.”
Even as a Christian, we have hard days. “Her heart wanted to cry out ‘Why, God?’ but she knew that wouldn’t help.” When we do not understand life, we have to trust that God is good and He will see us through.
Troubles may push people away from God. “I hate death. I can’t believe there’s a god if he can’t put a stop to it.” God did take away the power of death. Jesus defeated death on the cross and because of that we can have the hope of Heaven. Death is not the end.
The novel shows the power of prayer. In tough times, prayer warriors are needed. I loved the name of Great Gran’s prayer group – Silver Sisters Of The Sword. The sword is the mighty word of Jesus and we need to use it to defeat the devil.
Words of discouragement come from the devil. We need to lift our eyes off our circumstances and focus on God to be strengthened in our battles.
Every life matters to God. No matter how long or short, lives can make a difference.
There is the theme of healing – healing may occur here or in Heaven. One day we will all have glorious new bodies.
God is the God of restoration. He will repay the years the locusts have eaten. He is a generous God and we will not be disappointed.
There is comfort in our dreams. God can use our dreams to give us glimpses of Heaven.
There is also the theme of overseas adoption. Children need loving, stable homes. Three year old Chen is delightfully drawn. His mannerisms and turn of speech, meant I could easily ‘see’ him.
The characters are all wonderful. Their love radiated out from the novel. The story showed how we all need family, friends and support on this journey through life.
For A Season was my first book by Rosemary Hines. I was captivated by its beauty and the heartfelt words. My emotions rode a roller coaster throughout the book. Rosemary Hines writes with great sensitivity and to inform. I learnt a lot about the condition portrayed within the novel.
For A Season also has the power to strengthen your faith. Reliance on God by the characters shows how He is faithful. We can trust Him in the good times and the bad.
A beautiful book.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
JULIA WILSON