by Kathryn Springer, Zondervan Publishers, 2015
What can I say? I’m a girl. I have an appreciation for
and attraction to things that are beautiful. That includes books. I’m not
talking the cover either – though the cover of this book is certainly
beautiful! It’s the story that draws in me again and again. I’m a sucker for a
beautiful story and that’s what The Dandelion Field is. It starts with an ugly,
ugly scenario: Good Christian hometown boy, son of a fall hero firefighter,
popular with and kind to all… he gets attracted to her… trailer trash, just traveling
through, doesn’t even know her dad since he abandoned the family years ago,
hardened teenage girl. Despite all the differences between them, Cody falls in
love with Raine. And he falls hard! Now they’re sitting in the living room
announcing she is pregnant.
But the story isn’t really about them. It’s about
their parents. Sort of. Dan isn’t really Cody’s dad. He’s Cody’s dad’s best
friend and partner in fighting fires. He grew up as a playmate to Cody’s dad
and mom. In fact, Dan noticed Cody’s mom had suddenly turned into a young woman
first. So twelve years ago, when Cody’s dad died, Dan stepped in and took over
the role of father. Dan is exactly as Cody was described above: he’s the fire
chief, grew up in this small town, admired by and kind to all, a strong
Christian and very attractive. Geneieve however is exactly as her daughter was
described. The abandonment of Raine’s father was the final straw for her. No
more trusting anyone or making any attempt to lay down roots. She’s just
passing through – like always.
But the God of Dan and Cody has plans to turn Gen
& Raine’s world upside down. And He wants to use Dan and Cody to bless
these two women in ways they could never have imagined!
How could I not be drawn to the gentle, tender love
story of two men who want to woo the women they love in such a godly manner?
Even as Dan tries to pursue Gen, he hears that still small voice guiding him
and he heeds it, though it causes deep pain. Cody is every bit the hero his dad
was and Dan is. He takes full responsibility for his mistake – long before
Raine finds out she’s pregnant. It only takes giving in one time for Cody to
repent and recommit to doing what is right. When he learns she is pregnant he
is even more determined to do what he believes God wants of him.
Some would bash this book for being so filled, not
just with good morals, but with a very clear faith. That’s where I find the
beauty though. The author uses a tender love story to preach trust in God, even
as it shows how sin can have some pretty strong consequences – even if that sin
was giving in to one small moment of temptation.
One of my favorite children’s videos compares the
movie Finding Nemo to the Bible saying how we like “stories like this because
we are in a story like this. Our world is broken. It doesn’t work quite right.”
We try and try to restore it, to make things right. Who can’t relate to feeling
lost, confused and hopeless? Dan and Cody can not fix the hurt in Gen and
Raine’s lives, but they can help point them to the One who can and show a
picture of the great love that God has for them!
So how about you? What story shows beauty to you?
Where do you see stories of God’s redemption?
No comments:
Post a Comment