A lesson from a character in a book

 

I decided after finished reading the book “Gone With the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell a couple of weeks ago I decided to write a post about it today being January 16, 2017,

as I found that one of the characters made an impression on me.  Her name was Melanie or for those close to her ‘Melly.’  Even when everything was going crazy around her with the other characters and what not, she chose to stay positive. 

I find for myself when life becomes chaotic, I often stress out and become overwhelmed.  I tend to focus on the negatives of the moment.  Melly, on the other hand, believed that even as the world was crashing down around her, there was someone who would help her through it.

I know that Melly is a fictional character, but I do believe that people in books can change a person even if the character is make believe.  When I read a book, I get into their world and I feel like I am right there with them.  I feel like I’m one of their best friends and they are writing a letter to me about how their lives are.

When I find someone in a book that I can relate to, I imagine myself as that character.  When I read about Melly I thought she sounds a lot like myself in some ways.  She was quiet, respectful, kind, considerate and loving.  She was also very loyal to those she loved.  When someone in the story went against someone Melly loved, she stood up against them as if they were her foe.  That was shocking as Melly was never one to force her opinion on someone else or raise her voice.

It helped me to see that it’s important to express your voice when it’s something you care about.  I tend to get too scared to tell people how I feel if someone offends me.  When I don’t tell them, then those feelings stay inside of me.  I’m not saying that you should be rude to someone that was rude to you, but to explain to them how it hurt you by what they said.

Another trait I appreciated about Melly was that she treated everyone the same regardless of their circumstances.  There were many people in the story that weren’t well off and she never looked down on them.  It reminded me a bit about how Christ was.  He would talk and hang out with those that were looked down on in society.  He did not care if people shunned them as He would love them and treat them the same as anyone else.

It made me realize that I wasn’t doing that.  I would never say anything mean about someone else I didn’t care for, but I would sometimes think about it in my head.  I think God led me to read this book to help me acknowledge that I can be judgemental about some people, and that He sees us all the same.  I love it when I learn something unexpected from Him, especially when it comes to reading, as I love to read books.

God can show us life lessons in many ways, from a book, to a TV show, to a movie, to a friendly phone call, and many other ways.   It’s important to keep your eyes and ears open for those lessons.

Patricia <3 J

Galatians 5:14     For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

 

Here’s a song about Our Lord’s love comes in wave after wave crashes over us.  For He is for us and not against us.  He draws us out beyond the shore, and He can make us brave.  We don’t have to fear as His love can make the way for us.

 

“You Make Me Brave” by Amanda Cook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UglO7SGUWk&list=PL3whQX319DaB37iB8NZpJe206iSdpe3kc&index=170