The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is the story of a young girl, Liesel Meminger, living in Nazi Germany during World War II. As Liesel and her brother make the journey to live with foster parents, he dies along the way. At her brother's gravesite, Liesel snatches her first book- The Grave Digger's Handbook. It becomes a treasured possession, even though she cannot read or write. 

Liesel moves in with her foster parents, Rosa and Hans Hubermann, and soon meets Rudy Steiner, a boy who becomes her best friend. Liesel learns to read, and continues stealing books, including one banned by Hitler.

When Max Vandenburg, a Jew, shows up at the Hubermanns door, the family risks their lives to hide him in their basement.

The Book Thief is a popular book club selection. The novel contains the themes of courage, love, loss, abandonment, guilt, and the power of words which was my favorite theme of the book. Proverbs 18: 21 says, "Death and Life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Words have the power to save and heal; words also have the power to destroy. Liesel both loves words and hates words. She witnesses the destruction of Hitler's words, and she experiences the healing, comforting words of her foster father.

The novel is appropriate for teens and adults. It presents opportunities for dynamic dialogue between parents and teens. Zusak masterfully uses strong imagery. The book contains curse words and violence (in the form of beatings). It's worth reading!

The Book Thief was released as a movie in 2013.

Have you read The Book Thief? Who is your favorite character and why?

February's Choice: Mimi & Grandpa's Book of the Month

After World War II, Joseph Stalin blocked the Allies access to West Berlin, Germany. The Allies responded by air lifting food and supplies to the people. Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot, by Margot Theis Raven, is the true story of American pilot, Gail Halvorsen, who flew over Berlin dropping gum and chocolate candy to children affected by the blockade. Mercedes watched the sky, waiting.. hoping... for chocolate.

I chose this uplifting story because it's about demonstrating courage and kindness to help desperate people. It's about doing the right thing, even when it's hard. It's also the story that inspired "Mimi & Grandpa's Book of the Month."

Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot was a 2003-04 nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award, a 2004- 05 Children's Crown Honor Book, and a 2006 Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award nominee. 

What story inspires you?

Valentine Prayers - A Special Touch

Children, of all ages, love receiving mail!  I send greeting cards to each grandchild regardless how near or far away they live. The dollar store is my favorite place to purchase nice cards for a low price.

For a special touch, I personalize each card with a unique, handwritten prayer.  Here are three tips for writing prayers to include in your greeting cards:

1.  Acknowledge an attribute of God such as loving, faithful, good, merciful, or powerful.

2. Give thanks for the recipient, and for their character, gifts, talents, or abilities. 

3. Ask the LORD to help the child be or do something, such as "Be kind to family members" or "Obey their parents."

  Here's an example of my Valentine Prayer:

Mighty God, you are our all-powerful Creator. Thank you for Buddy. Because you are a good God, you have a good plan for his life. Help Buddy to love you, and to love and be kind to others. Amen.

(Ephesians 4: 32).

 

Because my grandchildren are young, I keep each prayer short and simple, using vocabulary they know. As they grow, I can lengthen my prayers for them. I also like to include the Scripture references for  Bible verses I prayed. When the child reads these Scriptures, it helps them develop an awareness that you are praying God's Word. As they learn and memorize Bible verses, they too can pray God's Word.

Blessings to you and yours on Valentine's Day!

To whom will you send a Valentine card? Why is this person special?

Kindness Every Day

Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 9- 15, 2015. The RAK Foundation's purpose is to inspire a culture of kindness in schools, homes, and communities. Being kind is a good thing.

"Random" means "proceeding, made, or occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern." It can also be defined as "odd and unpredictable."

God's not random.  He has prepared good works for me (Ephesians 2: 10). He gives me multiple opportunities throughout the day to extend kindness. It's my responsibility to be still and listen to His voice.

Since my kindness "fail", I've been more attentive to the Holy Spirit's nudges.  After a delightful conversation with a nurse practitioner, the LORD prompted me to give her a hug. So I did. 

Develop the holy habit of showing kindness, not just one week a year, but every single day. 

Abba Father, thank you for your lovingkindness! Thank you for your forgiveness, and for sacrificing your one and only son on our behalf. Give us an awareness of the opportunities you provide  to show kindness to our family, friends, and  strangers. Help us model kindness to our children and grandchildren. May kindness become our daily habit. Amen.

 It's always a good day to show kindness. How has someone shown kindness to you?

Mimi & Grandpa's "Book of the Month"

I love a great story. As a children's librarian, I had the privilege of reading aloud to students. These memories inspired me to give our grandchildren a year-long Christmas gift: Mimi & Grandpa's "Book of the Month."

Our December selection was The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.

It's the story of the Herdmans, the worst behaved kids to ever walk the earth, and their eagerness to participate in the church Christmas pageant. An impish and rowdy bunch, the Herdmans were also clueless about Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus.  The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a funny and delightful tale.

Robert the Rose Horse  by Joan Heilbroner is January's title. It's one of Grandpa's childhood favorites. Because roses made him sneeze, Robert leaves the farm, moves to the city, and finds a job. Sneezing remains a problem, so Robert changes jobs...until he find the perfect one. The book is illustrated by P. D. Eastman.

 I excited to mail our next selection to the grands! Come back in February for my reveal.  And yes, you can borrow this idea.

What beloved book would you give a child? I'd love to know!

The Grapes of Wrath

People are mean.

I read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Uprooted from their Oklahoma home during the Dust Bowl, the Joad family joined thousands of other migrants seeking a better life in California. Hope drove them west. They discovered, not a land of promise and opportunity, but homelessness, unemployment, hunger, desperation, and wrath. 


Solomon wrote, "... there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1: 9). Since Cain murdered his brother, Abel, man has demonstrated inhumanity against fellow man. Lying, cheating, and the undignified treatment towards men ignited wrath in the migrants' hearts.

Anger motivates people to action. And, that action can manifest itself positively or negatively. The migrants attempted to stand and unionize; however, their valiant stand brought them imprisonment, beatings, or even death.

The book's message is valuable and relevant to our generation. Injustice spawns contempt.  Chaos, abuse, oppression, despair exist. But, Love's light shines in the darkness. Opportunities to extend kindness remain. What will we choose?

The novel's abrupt and unexpected conclusion impacted me. It required a self-check. We're all people, created by Almighty God, doing life together. Whether I am poor or broken, or weary will I muster all my strength to nourish a famished soul?

Lord, give me eyes to see. Help me love like Jesus. 

What historical fiction novel impacted you? How?

My INTENTIONAL Journey

My 2015 "ONE WORD" is INTENTIONAL.

I will be INTENTIONAL about memorizing Bible verses. I chose to participate again with the SSMT. Memorize 2 verses a month in 2015, and post these verses as comments to the Living Proof Ministries blog.

For my first verse, and because applying it requires an intentional attitude,  I chose Ephesians 5: 15, "Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, ..."

My second verse is the rest of that sentence: "... making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5: 16 - NIV). One translation puts it this way: "Use every chance for doing good, because these are evil times." (NCV).  Will I be intentional about "making the most of every opportunity"?  I must intentionally choose to do good.

I pulled  into the coffee shop's drive-through and ordered a vanilla latte. I noticed a police vehicle two cars ahead of me, and sensed a "God-nudge"- one of those moments you think maybe God is trying to tell you something. "Pay for the officer's order." 

In that brief window of opportunity to do something good, something kind, something to show appreciation for law enforcement, I rationalized. I justified. I told myself the business probably gives free coffee to police officers. So, I did nothing. And when I got home, I wanted a do-over. Another chance. But the opportune time was...gone.

I'm disappointed I missed an opportunity. But today, is a new day. God's mercy is new. Because evil exists, there will be God-given moments to overcome evil with good. I will be intentional, and do good.

How have you overcome evil with good recently?