Waiting for Christmas

By: Lynn Austin

Dakota County Library hardcover 272 pages plus discussion questions

Published: 2024

Genre: Christian historical fiction

This sweet little novella surprised me when I realized we were revisiting the Stanhopes after Junietta's passing! (Our book club recently finished Austin's All My Secrets, where we first met this book's main characters.) I liked Addie better in this book than the first one. She and Howard Forsythe are newly married and living in a townhouse. She wants to learn to do the things she always had servants for and he's walking a fine line between wanting to take care of her and supporting her independent choices.

I'm surprised that I put so many post-its into a fluffy little book, but I did enjoy it. Very predictable story, but heart warming nonetheless.

Page 67: He and Addy had experienced both extremes today, from ramshackle tenement to rambling mansion, and he marveled that both were in the same city, on the same 23-square-mile island. 

I think so many of us get used to our own "normal" and forget that there are extremes in both directions. It helps us be better humans, I think, if we're aware of how others live. I struggle to be understanding of those with extreme wealth, though. I'm just being honest.

Page 129: "In case you can't tell, Mrs. Forsythe, I love to cook. I feel like it's what God meant for me to do. When I heard about this position, I thought I heard Him whisper that He wanted me to serve Him here, for some reason."

What a blessing Mrs. Gleason was for Addy and Jack and Polly! I love her down-to-earth attitude and the love she showers onto the children. Also, it's good to find your calling and be tuned in to what God has for you.

Page 132: He needed to pray, not worry. And he tried to pray, really he did. But Howard's mind was too disordered to think clearly, and all that came out was, "Lord, help. Please, help."

That's a fantastic prayer! Lord, please help. Howard wanted to find Polly and find the children's dad. But he couldn't do it on his own. I love how praying this brought him peace and direction. God is so good!

Page 164: "I've prayed some pretty big prayers over the years that seemed to go unanswered. And if I wasn't careful, I could start to believe that God didn't love me because He didn't give me what I'd asked for. I had to learn that my faith shouldn't depend on whether or not God answers my prayers exactly the way I want Him to."

Again, Mrs. Gleason is the rock star / hero in this conversation with Addy about how to help Jack deal with disappointment.

Page 251: "Some people are given the opportunity to do grand things in life, but if we just make a difference in the lives of the people God puts in our paths, I think He's pleased with that. Mrs. Gleason would say she's 'just a cook.' But she has blessed me, and my society friends, and Jack and Polly in more ways than I can count. She would say it wasn't much, but to us it was huge."

The "grand things" are indeed important, but not all of us are called to do them. I like Addy's growing understanding of what God wants her to do. I also like the reminder to not think less of ourselves if we're doing what we do out of love for the Lord.

Page 268-9: "Yet this is what Christmas is truly about, isn't it? Loving our neighbor. Spreading God's love to others. And bringing the lost ones home."

Happy ending! Yes, this is what Christmas is truly about. 

 

I'm sorry I missed book club last night. I hope my immune system can finish the fight against this viral bugger making me sick.