Carol McClain: Joy Comes in the Morning
JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
BUT UNTIL IT DOES …?
Sin’s not all it’s cracked up to be—but after sorrow, comes joy.
Numbers 14:18 and similar scriptures always caused me to stumble. “The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation” Numbers 14:18, KJV. (emphasis mine).
Of course, it wasn’t the fact that God is longsuffering and of great mercy that give me pause.
That he forgives me, brings me joy.
But why would he hurt the offspring of the iniquitous? They didn’t cause the sin of their parents.
However, I’ve come to see in my life how this happens. My parents had been alcoholic (past tense—forgiven and forgotten). However, my siblings and I mimicked their pattern of behavior. I won’t reveal the foibles of my siblings or the specifics of my own. I had dabbled in alcohol and drugs. But praise be to God (and not a Christian platitude—genuine praise), I accepted Jesus and swore off anything bringing inebriation.
Throughout my life, though, I’ve battled the consequences of my youthful foibles
In similar patterns, we see children of abuse, abusing their children. Offspring of cheaters, cheat. Even as they despise what happened to them, these individuals repeat the process, unless something breaks the cycle (e.g., salvation and mentoring).
Recently, I moved to a county which, at one time, had the third-highest opioid use in the nation. I involved myself with mentoring and sadly watched so many fervent individuals relapse into addiction.
Why? Patterns learned enthrall us. And, sin has consequences.
Oh, aren’t you glad you’re reading this blog?
Here comes the good part.
Salvation and mentoring work.
Through my coaching, through Celebrate Recovery, and my time on the board of a drug rehabilitation organization, I heard many horror stories of those who have been conquered by hurts, hang-ups, and habits. Despite their overwhelming odds, I’ve rejoiced with many who conquered their past.
From this, Borrowed Lives was born. From this, I know the issues confronting people and the wonderful way they’ve conquered them—whether it be from drugs or human cruelty. (You’ve never faced a miserable human, have you? I didn’t think so. Although I believe most people are good-hearted, miserable humans thrive. Surprise!).
Borrowed Lives
Tragedy broke Meredith Jaynes, then she found three abandoned children.
This novel creates a world where things aren’t perfect, even for devoted Christians. As sin is overcome and as we walk in God, we may not get our “happily ever after.” With dependence on Christ and His ways, we will live happily.
So, why should you read this novel?
- Humor. Even when I’m not trying to be funny, I am. I can’t help it. Move over Carol Burnett. This Carol’s taking over.
- Spiritual truth. Even when I’m entertaining, I’m guided by Scripture. By now it’s in the very fabric of my being. If you’re battling issues, this reading-escape may point you in the direction of healing.
- Local color. I’m still enamored of my new home in Tennessee, so I set the book in Jacksboro—my new hometown. Hopefully, you can see Tennessee’s beauty.
God Only Lends Us Those We Love for a Season
Distraught from recent tragedy, Meredith Jaynes takes pity on a young girl who steals from her. Meredith discovers “Bean” lives in a hovel mothering her two younger sisters. The three appear to have been abandoned. With no other homes available, Social Services will separate the siblings. To keep them together, Meredith agrees to foster them on a temporary basis.
Balancing life as a soap maker raising goats in rural Tennessee proved difficult enough before the siblings came into her care. Without Bean’s help, she’d never be able to nurture these children warped by drugs and neglect—let alone manage her goats that possess the talents of Houdini. Harder still is keeping her eccentric family at bay.
Social worker Parker Snow struggles to overcome the breakup with his fiancée. Burdened by his inability to find stable homes for so many children who need love, he believes placing the abandoned girls with Meredith Jaynes is the right decision. Though his world doesn’t promise tomorrow, he hopes Meredith’s does.
But she knows she’s too broken.
Carol McClain is the award-winning author of four novels dealing with real people facing real problems. She is a consummate encourager, and no matter what your faith might look like, you will find compassion, humor and wisdom in her complexly layered, but ultimately readable work.
Aside from writing, she’s a skilled stained-glass artist, an avid hiker and photographer. She lives in East Tennessee. Her most recent interest are her two baby does Peanut & Buttercup. Like all babies, they love sitting on our laps and being bottle fed.
You can connect with her at carolmcclain.com.
On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/author.Carol.McClain
On twitter and Instagram: @carol_mcclain
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14030286.Carol_McClain
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carol-mcclain
