Monday, January 19, 2009

A Novel Idea


You don't have to be around me very long to know I love to read! It started somewhere back there with Winnie the Pooh and Dr. Seuss and progressed to Nancy Drew and the Mandie books. By junior high, I had read most of the Janette Oke and Lori Wick books and anything else I could get my hands on. Then, I met the man of my dreams and got married. Somehow reading about the romances of various schoolgirls on the prairie and otherwise lost its luster. To me the plots became predictable (boy meets girl, boy or girl#2 comes along and tries to wreck it, boy and girl end up together happily ever after), boring (who wants to read fiction when you have the real thing) and too perfect.

Now, my husband isn't perfect (but he comes just about as close as any human being can!) and neither is yours. I began to think of the effect these books may have on women. If you love fiction, keep reading. I'm not knocking the books or the authors. I even gave away a Lori Wick book last week (incidentally, the winner is giving it to her daughter). Stay with me!

Girls need an example of what a godly romance looks like. However, there could be a problem if we begin comparing Mr. Wonderful in the book to our real life Prince Charmings. I can sit and swoon over a man who fights for his lady in the Old West saloon but fail to appreciate the fighting with the world my husband does each day to stay pure and faithful to me. I could long for someone who commiserates and understands perfectly a whiny woman or thank God for a husband who isn't afraid to say, "I don't want to hurt you, but don't you think you owe that person an apology for what you said?" I can admire a man who is always immaculately groomed or realize that the sweaty brow or dirty hands my husband has when he walks through the door have put food on our table that week.

Please don't think that I never read fiction and think you shouldn't. That is not the case. I just want to encourage you to always keep in mind the real romance you have right in front of you. As I've said already, it's your very own fairy tale. Enjoy!

What are some ways you enjoy your fairy tale in every day life?

9 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. Here is Sarah's comment with a link removed. The article was fine, but I wasn't comfortable with some of the images on the site for this blog.

    Sarah said:
    Sorry for the spelling and grammatical errors. I redone my post. It's hard to type when munching on tasty homemade apple crumble and custard and playing sims 2 and reading a blog:-)

    I enjoy virtual reality (especially Sims 2) and I don't live in high hope that it will become real life.

    The ideal husband is so easy to locate in Sims 2, very little hard work required. In real life, it's a different subject entirely.

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  4. Thank you for that post. My friend and I have been discussing the very topic. We are huge Oke fans and share your dilemma. All men are not like Wynn or Clark, perfect, handsome and perfect. Should we be setting up expectations for our future husbands that are too high for any man to reach?
    After about 14 years old Mother allowed me to read whatever I wanted (within reason for a young Christian lady) as long as we discussed the book in detail. She was very careful to point out that all men are HUMAN! :O)

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  5. I agree with you, Jen. Those "Christian Romance" novels certainly can encourage unrealistic expectations. There is not a perfect man walking on the earth today, but there are many who are or will become godly husbands.

    My man isn't perfect in every way, either, but he is perfect for me! :o)

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  6. I like that--we can all say we are married to the perfect man, huh? After all, God chose them especially for us. Should make us think twice before we want to look or be like someone else--then we wouldn't "fit" anymore. Hmmmm...I'm thinking future blog post!

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  7. I agree wholeheartedly! All those stories seem so empty now that I've met the man of my dreams and realize what "real" life is when it comes to being truly "in love". Those books really seem to cheapen the meaning of true love. (If that makes any sense... LOL)

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  8. This is a little late but I just "met" you on your blog through my blog today. I agree with you on the fiction books. I became so concerned when I was in a Christian Holiness Campground & I overheard a mother say she would like to get her daughter, who was about 13, a good book but she didn't like some of the fiction books that were being sold. I have wanted.........DREAMED I should say of writing a book but never thought I could do it........well to make a long story short I DID write a book for youth & older that is holiness with emphasis on doing God's will no matter what.....in dating, marriage and occupation. It is entitled "Thy Will Be Done" and I am selling them myself.......all 650 of them!!! I have over 500 left to sell & nowhere to sell them. Yes, I do sell some at our Christian campground & 1 or 2 here & there. Thanks for your comments on my blog lifeispinkishpurple. I am not always so depressing. I just started my blog & sometimes I am going to be all PINK with no purple. I really love both colors & really isn't that what life is about? Ups & downs. I think you will agree with me there. LOL : )
    In Christian love,
    Sharon

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