The Family That Works, Rests And Prays Together

Many Hands Make Light Work by Cheryl Stritzel McCarthy is a wonderful family memoir about growing up in a Christian family in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

The author is one of nine children who had what sounds like The Waltons type childhood. Mum and Dad happily welcomed strangers into their home in the form of a series of college students needing board and lodgings.

As with all large families, a degree of organisation is needed to function. The family all pulled together to keep everything running smoothly.

I loved the idea that the family sang together as they worked together. I even found myself singing along in my head as I read! Some songs did create moments of hilarity too.

Prayer, church attendance and God were all present in the children’s lives as good strong influences on the adults they became.

I really enjoyed Many Hands Make Light Work. It was entertaining, wildly funny at times and truly inspirational. I loved reading about the family who worked, played, sang, worshipped, lived and loved together. The inclusion of photos enabled me to put faces to names. At the end there is a section on what all the household is doing now, which was good to know.

I will leave you with my favourite quote which comes after the family had visited their grandparents:

“Love isn’t always obvious, effusive and extroverted. Sometimes it is bent, shuffles with age, and wears a newsboy cap.”

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON