His Love And Loyalty

Missing Mercy by Stephenia McGee is a marvellous Christian historical novel set in 1887. It is the dawn of a new era for some but for others they are still seen as second class citizens. Women and people of colour have to fight to be heard.

Within the story there are two feisty females – one white and one black. They are both strong women with dreams to break into a man’s world. They are also friends.

The novel deals with the issue of race and segregation. There is a myth that the North is more accepting. “It’s different up north… They [Negroes] don’t have to hide up there.” In reality there is still a long way to go and nearly a hundred years before African Americans will be accepted. It is hoped that “Our children… see their God-given souls and not… their skin tone.”

God’s plans are so much greater than ours. If we stubbornly choose our path instead of His, it will take longer to get to our destination. “Despite all the terrible choices she’d made, God had kept her in His hand.” God will never abandon us. He will respect our choices but that does not mean He will let go His hold of us.