Saturday, July 29, 2006
The Crystal Hummingbird
This is not a book review in the normal sense. It is my reaction to this story, but really it's not a review. I cannot say anything about the style or the flow or anything else I might normally say about a book I've read. That is because the experience of reading this book was an exceptionally personal and emotional one. I had to set it aside for a couple of days around the mid-point because I was so drained emotionally. You see, Bella Rossiter is my "Aunt Bella-Marie." She is my mom's youngest sister and her son Jimmy was my cousin. This is the heart wrenching story of her grief at the death of her youngest son, Jimmy. In this book we travel with her into the darkness of despair, and with the help of the Lord, out into the light on the other side.
For most of my life I have been somewhat isolated from my family. It is only in the last few years that I have begun to slowly reconnect with my Mom and with my Dad shortly before his death from cancer, and with my sister Kari. Recently Bella has been sharing things with me via e-mail, photo slide shows of things she has been doing. Now, in this intimate book, I find myself knowing her better than ever before, even though for a time, when I had just joined the Army, I lived with her family. I was never that close to her in those days. I was a disturbed and rebellious 17 year old at the time and was not capable of genuinely getting to know people. Not long after staying with them I descended into drugs and declared (not genuine) atheism and lost all contact with my family. I want to thank Bella for this glimpse into events that I witnessed from afar. Most of all I want to thank my Lord Jesus Christ for His love for all of us in our family, no matter how disturbed or sinful we are he never ever gives up on us. Even when our sins are most grievous He still forgives us. We tend to think that our big sins mean we are not really Christians, that is not the truth though, it is a lie told to us by the accuser. If one falls into some sin, say alcoholism or drugs, that is no more a bar to God's forgiveness than an angry feeling toward a brother. In the world they may be different, they may have more severe consequences for our lives, but in the eyes of God they are not different, we are all sinners each and every day and will remain so until this "body of death" finally breathes its last. Only through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus do we have forgiveness of our sins. It is good to know that my cousin Jimmy is with the Lord, and I do look forward to seeing him again one day.
Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us Bella! ΒΆ 7/29/2006 09:50:00 AM
This is not a book review in the normal sense. It is my reaction to this story, but really it's not a review. I cannot say anything about the style or the flow or anything else I might normally say about a book I've read. That is because the experience of reading this book was an exceptionally personal and emotional one. I had to set it aside for a couple of days around the mid-point because I was so drained emotionally. You see, Bella Rossiter is my "Aunt Bella-Marie." She is my mom's youngest sister and her son Jimmy was my cousin. This is the heart wrenching story of her grief at the death of her youngest son, Jimmy. In this book we travel with her into the darkness of despair, and with the help of the Lord, out into the light on the other side.
For most of my life I have been somewhat isolated from my family. It is only in the last few years that I have begun to slowly reconnect with my Mom and with my Dad shortly before his death from cancer, and with my sister Kari. Recently Bella has been sharing things with me via e-mail, photo slide shows of things she has been doing. Now, in this intimate book, I find myself knowing her better than ever before, even though for a time, when I had just joined the Army, I lived with her family. I was never that close to her in those days. I was a disturbed and rebellious 17 year old at the time and was not capable of genuinely getting to know people. Not long after staying with them I descended into drugs and declared (not genuine) atheism and lost all contact with my family. I want to thank Bella for this glimpse into events that I witnessed from afar. Most of all I want to thank my Lord Jesus Christ for His love for all of us in our family, no matter how disturbed or sinful we are he never ever gives up on us. Even when our sins are most grievous He still forgives us. We tend to think that our big sins mean we are not really Christians, that is not the truth though, it is a lie told to us by the accuser. If one falls into some sin, say alcoholism or drugs, that is no more a bar to God's forgiveness than an angry feeling toward a brother. In the world they may be different, they may have more severe consequences for our lives, but in the eyes of God they are not different, we are all sinners each and every day and will remain so until this "body of death" finally breathes its last. Only through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus do we have forgiveness of our sins. It is good to know that my cousin Jimmy is with the Lord, and I do look forward to seeing him again one day.
Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us Bella! ΒΆ 7/29/2006 09:50:00 AM
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I am humbled, Larry, by your heartfelt expressions about my experiences with my son, Jimmie. The depth of emotion filled my heart to overflowing, and tears fell. I am so thankful our heavenly Father draws us closer to Him as well as closer to each other as his beloved children. I look forward to our journey together this fall. Love and hugs, Aunt Bella Marie
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