Baby

Do you enjoy biblical fiction? Maybe you are like me and are on the fence about it. I don’t like having the Bible retold using extra little things. This series, Cities of Refuge, by author Connilyn Cossette, however, is a delight for biblical fiction. In her second book Shelter of the Most High, readers are able to follow along without having read Book One. It does continue the story of Moriyah and Darek so I want to go back and read Book One now.

FC624F0A-715E-4610-ADF1-FC8BE06CBE9F

Author Cossette has an engaging style of writing. Her book was well researched and took me back in time to a place and era of which I have often read. This time instead of reading about it, I experienced it. The year was 1388 BC, a time before Christ had come to earth. People were much different.

My emotions ran deep as I read. I had become immediately invested in the lives of the well developed characters. Sofea was the daughter of a pagan high priest. She and her cousin, Perez, were violently taken from their home in Sicily and ended up in Canaan. Aboard the slave ship they were beaten and starved. The tragedy was heartbreaking. One minute you are home and the next your home is attacked. You are enslaved and sent on a ship to an unknown land that cannot understand your language. I needed tissues.

Times of joy brought happiness to me. I was frightened with the characters. They experienced violence and such trauma. The girls received love and compassion. I could relax then.

One of the things I really loved about this book is that it is not about a biblical, historical person. As I said earlier, I don’t like it when people add words or thoughts to an actual biblical person. This is much better. It still provides a venue to enlighten readers to the people, area, and customs of the time.

The Old Testament is known for being a bit violent. This book has manslayers, murder plots, kidnapping, and slavery. It also has love. There is a sweet love story and a greater one. One inspiration message is that God loves us. Another is to let our light shine forth to others. Not everyone really knows about the one true God, our God. We can share Him with others and help them.

I highly recommend this captivating book. If you like bible times, you will adore this. It is packed with action, intrigue, romance, history, culture, and inspiration. There is much food for thought in its 335 pages. After the story are Author Notes and Discussion Questions. I love books that include those because it makes reading groups so much easier. Rating this book 5 out of 5 stars was my recommendation. A copy was provided by the publisher but I was under no obligation to write a review. All thoughts are my own, honest ones.

Christmas is a time of miracles and for families. As I prepare for it this year my mind continues to gravitate back to that first Christmas. As a mother, grandmother, and aunt it makes me wonder what the women of Mary’s family thought about her and her baby, God’s Son. Did they throw her a shower or babysit Him? Did they offer advice and help? Who was expected to attend Mary at the baby’s delivery?

In our family a baby is a big deal. Phone start buzzing as soon as the couple see the positive on that little stick. Grandparents-to-be are over the moon excited as are aunts and uncles. Siblings and cousins eagerly await the new one, also. Funny, adorable pictures are sent or put on Facebook to let everyone know a new member will be added to the family. There are showers to flood the family with all kinds of things for the baby. Several of my friends have had Grammy showers.

There is not much information on the women in her family or Joseph’s. Some data can be found on the men but not women. Women were not mentioned much in biblical times, mostly just men. Mary was an only child. I remember that from church and readings. It was indicated that she was a devoted daughter and very good. Greek scrolls list Mary’s parents as Anne or Anna and Eli. They do not name grandparents. Joseph had siblings so Jesus had aunts, uncles, and cousins. When studying about His family it is very controversial about if He had siblings. I am not well versed enough to comment or debate this. You will need to study up on it yourself and then please let me know your thoughts.

Confusing and emotional to think that God’s Son had a literal earthly family. Don’t you wonder what they thought? Mary announced she was untouched and having a baby. Joseph backed her up. Wait a minute, she was pregnant and they were just betrothed. Mary claimed she hadn’t been unfaithful nor had Joseph known her. Did his family urge Joseph to stone or divorce her? Did Mary’s family make fun of her and think her mentally ill or promiscuous? What would we do if one of our family members announced something miraculous and could only come from God, had happened to them? Would we believe them? Be envious or skeptical? Maybe happy? Excited? Would we want to hear the tale of this blessing and revelation from God Himself? Maybe we would yearn to know every detail of what Abba said and how His voice sounded. We might believe them. Perhaps or perhaps not. Humans are curious by nature but hard to convince.

Can you imagine how her parents felt when young teenage Mary left on a donkey in the late stages of pregnancy to go with Joseph to Bethlehem for the census? This mama here would have been climbing the walls if my daughter had done something like that. From that first step of the donkey until the first glimpse of her return, Mary’s mother was probably walking the floor. Mary left pregnant and came back a mother. The journey took a while to make, too, with no way to get news to her family. Oh my! Mary had her baby without her mother or other family there. Did she return and announce “here is Jesus, our Savior.” Probably not. Mary most likely had to keep that bit of knowledge to herself. Treasuring that blessing and holding it deep within her. However, I would think Mary’s family gathered around to see her new bouncing baby boy when she and Joseph returned from Bethlehem. Families are universal and a baby unites them. He brings hope and joy. Everyone smiles around a baby. Happiness abounds when an infant is nearby. Women want to hold him. Children want to see his toes. Men turn into a pile of mush and say sing-songy things in a funny voice. Babies bring families together.

The same happened with Mary’s baby. God came to Earth as an infant, part man and God, as Jesus. He experienced things as we do. The advice and counsel we get is really from an “I’ve been there myself” viewpoint. Jesus understands. He gets it. He was scorned, beaten, harassed, bullied, and crucified. You name it and it was probably done to our Redeemer. True to scripture Jesus fulfilled prophecy proving He is God’s son. He unites all mankind and invites us to join His family, God’s family. He offers peace, hope, and happiness. He offers love and forgiveness. He offers joy. Joy to the world.

Book Review: Shelter of the Most High

Mary’s Baby Bring Joy