6 Books That Made Me Cry

1) All Things for Good by Thomas Watson~I think this was the first Puritan book I read, and I remember sitting in a parking lot, waiting for a friend to get done with a doctor's appointment, and just weeping over God's goodness. Watson's wise words are still in my head, and his book is one I return to often.

2) Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout~Several people I very much respect recommended this one. Reading it reminded me that we all have different comfort levels regarding questionable content. Honestly, there were times I felt like I needed a good dosing of Lysol after reading certain passages, and this isn't one that I would necessarily recommend. However, I did read it, and it did make me cry. Here are the stories of very broken people, of life without Christ, and it reminded me, at many moments, of stories of real people in my own life, moving me to see their struggles in a different light.  I wept at the hopelessness, the sadness, the groping for something, in the midst of days without Him. And I wept at the wonder of  "But for God's grace, these stories could be mine."

3) Treasury of David by Spurgeon~I bought the entire unabridged set of this, and it was worth every penny. Oh, how the Psalms brought me such comfort last year as one heartache after another came our way, and it was and is a blessing to read Spurgeon's fleshing out of these inspired words.

4) The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel~In God's providence, I didn't understand His providence until much later in life. I spent many years fighting and worrying and manipulating because I was clueless about His sovereign care of me. How gracious is our God to not give us what we deserve, and how gracious is our God to design every detail of our lives for our good. I dare you to read this and not weep.

5)  Bob, Son of Battle by Alfred Ollivant~I loved reading this aloud to all of our children, and yes, there were a few times that Ink had to say, "Mom, just finish the passage." I got choked up more than once and had to put in a request for kleenex. "Quick, someone bring me some tissues or napkins or whatever. It's not pretty watching a pregnant woman sob all over the pages of a book." Books with happy characters and happy endings have their purpose and place, but it is good to see the effects of sin, how it eats away at us and destroys us and everyone around us. Feeding bitterness and revenge exacts a heavy price from our souls.

6) The Call to Wonder by R.C. Sproul, Jr.~There was such tenderness coming from R.C., Jr. in the pages of this book. He writes as a man who has known heartache and has seen God's provision and kindness in the most painful of circumstances. This is the book for those who are longing to rejoice in the most basic of God's gifts but want that rejoicing to be based on what's true in His Word and not sentimental fluff that trumps sound theology. It's a book that reminds us what it's like to have the faith and wonder of a child.

Your turn. What books have you read that moved you to weep, whether over God's goodness or man's hopelessness without Him? Just please don't tell me Twilight or Captain Underpants...

(And for you women who don't weep, then just tell me what books you loved and go back to again and again.)

With love,
Trisha

***When I mention books, please understand that doesn't mean I agree with every jot and tittle on every page. And, of course, God's Word makes me weep...just in case someone is wondering why that one isn't listed. I consider that a "given."