Mercy Me - Margaret A. Graham

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

28 May 2008 08:00 AM

"Mercy Me" is a down-to-earth Christian novel about a woman named Esmeralda and her best friend Beatrice. Beatrice has moved to another town and misses all her old friends, but Esmeralda keeps her up-to-date on everything that's going on in town, and throws in some life advice as well. She feels responsible for making sure Beatrice is happy - after all, Beatrice did have cancer a few years back and lives in fear that it will return.

As Esmeralda moves quietly through her life, doing all that needs doing, she uses her God-given stubbornness and common sense to solve problems that come up in the small congregation. When a new music director comes to the church and starts introducing all kinds of new sounds to the youth choir, the Willing Workers Sunday School class goes up in arms, wondering what on earth will become of them all if that wicked man is allowed to continue corrupting the teenagers. Esmeralda points out that we have to reach someone by speaking their own language, and that the music director has done more good for the teenagers than anyone had for years.

Esmeralda is also fiercely loyal to her friends. When Elijah's mule fell sick and died, taking away Elijah's best source of income as well as his best friend, Esmeralda saw to it personally that the animal was not sold to the dog food company. She also gathered up enough money to buy Elijah a new tiller, so he would still be able to work.

Another challenge comes her way when the mother of a small migrant family falls ill. Esmeralda takes upon herself the care and keeping of this woman who does not speak English and is dying from AIDS. Without a thought for herself, Esmeralda throws herself into the care and keeping of this poor woman, allowing her last days on earth to be comfortable and happy.

Her biggest challenge yet, though, is keeping her friend Beatrice from making a huge mistake with an old boyfriend. Beatrice has finally found herself a nice gentleman caller, but just then a rapscallion from her past shows up and wants to worm his way back in to her life. Esmeralda to the rescue with her no-nonsense ways.

I enjoyed this gentle story of a woman who never let life run her over, but instead, ran her own life.

(This book was published in 2003 by Baker Book House.)

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Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I've been a blogger for Families.com since August of 2006.

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