30 Day Book Challenge! Day 5: Happiness

Today is a lovely day:
~ the sun is shining
~ students have been prepared, and know their pieces well
~ plans for the recital are coming right along
~ I got a new book in the mail
~ mama made fresh, spicy salsa
~ August plans are on the road either to be turned upside down or completely solidified

...And besides all that, it is just a glorious day! What have your smiles been about today? I promise you that, no matter how crazy or hectic life may seem, God has sent you at least one...just don't turn your nose up at the little things. A bird's song, a gust of wind, flowers growing in an unlikely spot...there's always something beautiful to smile at, because evidence of our Father's character is everywhere. Keep your eye out - you might be surprised at where and when you have a God-sighting!

Day 5: What is a book that makes you happy?

This question completely confused me. Books make me happy. Unless they're terrible, nasty, rotten books - in which case they make me mad for wasting my time. Even sad, turmoil-filled books like Wuthering Heights make me happy, since in the end all is set right. I thought about just saying, "Um...all books besides the dumb ones make me smile," but that kind of ruins the one-book-answer for which I've been shooting. It was then I realized that the question doesn't ask what story, poem, essay or philosophical soliloquy make me smile, but what physical book makes me happy. That narrows it down to only about 50...because as far as the actual book is concerned, it's the old, antique covers that make me smile. My 80-year-old copy of Tennyson's Poems? The 120 year old Henty book? After much deliberation, I finally decided upon...

Isn't it beautiful? Yes, it makes me happy ~ the cover, the age, (it's about 140 years old), and the precious, sweet story. The Opening of a Chestnut Burr is a dear record of an earnest, Christ-following girl and a bitter, angry young man whose anger and bitterness melts away as the Holy Spirit reveals Himself through the girl and her father. One thing I love about this story is that the man does not believe in God as everything falls into place and begins to go well in life. No, he learns to trust God when he is forced to leave the girl forever, when he must submit to the hateful lies, hypocrisy, and triumph of a used-to-be friend who is engaged to the one he loves, when his life indeed looks the most hopeless - that is when he learns to trust. It is refreshing to read a conversion story that so fully smacks of the "real world"; and it consequently teaches far more about wisdom and patience than the typical "everything's good so I'll believe in God" stories. E.P. Roe clearly shows that the real story of the book is the eye-opening, repenting, and conversion of a man...then - and only then - do you get a happy ending.

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"His face was white with fear, and there was terror in his tone as he turned and said to her in a low voice, 'Miss Watson, that is what I have been coming to see and dread of late.... I carry hell in my own heart. When I am alone my imaginings frighten me; and when with others, impulses arise to do the devil's own work.'

'But it is the nature of God to save from all this. Christ, who is God, came to earth for that very purpose. I am so sorry that you do not understand Him better.'

'He saves some,' said Gregory gloomily.

'But many will not let Him save them,' urged Annie.

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Yes, a well-told story of the merciful salvation of our God makes me smile!