Book Review

I love to read. I'm usually reading 3-4 books at a time, plus my bible. This is how I like to spend my quiet time. Reading takes me to another place. I also love to imagine and when I read it's almost as if I can visualize myself in the circumstances discussed by the author in the book. Of course I don't usually want to be in the bad circumstances but I can still imagine myself in that time and place. It's almost like I'm dreaming when I'm reading. The characters in the books become a part of my world. I can't stop thinking about them until I at least finish the book, sometimes even long after I finish. It's really strange and hard to explain. I just love reading!

One book that I recently read is The Prodigal Husband by Jacquelin Thomas. Here is the summary:

Once, Tori and Jake Madison had a loving, satisfying marriage. But Jake's long hours spent on his growing business, and Tori's insecurities and self-doubts, have taken a toll on their relationship. When a tragedy threatens the bonds of their marriage, Jake seeks comfort in the arms of another woman. But his powerful feelings for Tori remain, and he knows that the only way to reclaim what they have lost is to come home.

In spite of Jake's betrayal, Tori cares deeply for her husband. If they are to reconcile, though, changes must be made. Complicating things is Sheila Moore, Jake's sexy, conniving business partner, who lured him into her bed once, and is now determined to hook him for good.

But she underestimates the power of a wife in love--one who has no intention of giving up without a fight...

Here are my thoughts on the book:

At first I did not find the book very thrilling. There wasn't much suspense because the author just quickly give an idea of something and then almost immediately it was answered. It was almost as if someone was telling the story verbatim. However, there were many good points of the story. A couple goes through a hard time because the husband cheats on the wife. However, it only gets more difficult because through all of this they lose their only child. The husband, being a coward, decides to run away. Although this couple has a strong faith, the husband blames God for all of his problems and cannot see that he was the one that turned his back on God and not the other way around. He also does not realize that the woman he cheated with wants him for herself and will do anything to tear him and his wife apart.

As I've said before, when I read I like to put myself in the situation and ask myself what I would do? This one was hard for me because I found myself saying that I could not be this woman because I would not stay with an unfaithful man. Yet the more I thought about it the more I felt like God was saying to me that He has forgiven me of all my sins and I need to forgive others. I thank God that I am not in the situation where I have an unfaithful husband. Believe me, I understand that you can never say never but I TRUST my husband. I feel blessed to have a husband like the one I have. However, I do and have struggled with forgiveness. My husband is usually my biggest encourager and supporter when I have difficulties forgiving someone. One of my biggest pet peeve is when I feel like someone is making a "fool" of me. I hate this. This is one of the reasons why I don't like phony people. How can you say that you are my friend but you lie to me. You don't have to pretend to be my friend. Trust me, I have enough friends already. But if you need me to be your friend, then you need to be honest with me. I always say: Keep it real;you owe yourself the satisfaction!

With that said, that is why I struggle with forgiveness. It's because when I love someone I put all that I have in me into that relationship- whether it's husband/wife, mother/daughter, father/daughter, sister/brother, sister/sister, or friend. If you want me to be your friend I can be your friend for life. But just as easily I can cut you off if you try to make a "fool" of me. This just really drives me crazy. However, it's something I'm working on and I have come a very long way. I've learned that you cannot put all your trust in people because they will disappoint you. No man is perfect. Only God is perfect. But I've also learned that if God could forgive men for their sins then I can also forgive people who have hurt me. And just because I've forgiven them doesn't mean that they won't hurt me again. And that's the reason why God wants us to forgive so many times in a day. Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

I know I've totally gone off on a rant but I really believe that personally this was what I was supposed to get out of the book. Even the wife (Tori) in the book struggled with forgiveness. So, I feel that the main point was about forgiveness and keeping your faith. It doesn't mean that if I had a cheating husband it would be so easy to forgive him but I believe that ultimately we NEED to forgive everyone if we want to be a part of God's kingdom.