When I picked up Ann Shorey’s newest book, Where Wildflowers Bloom, I wasn’t expecting to relate to the main character on such a personal level. Faith Lindberg lives just after the Civil War. She’s a single woman running the family mercantile. I’m a modern day farm girl who homeschools, chases the schedules of her four kids and tries to keep her head just above the water. I’m not much for numbers, so managing a store wouldn’t be my best job, but I do love words.

Here’s the thing, it doesn’t matter at which point in history we flash on the scene, we all have to deal with disappointment and decide where that will take us.

For quite a few years now I’ve wished to move, to leave behind the place where I grew up and start fresh with only my immediate family around me. I’ve tossed this idea around for years, but the time has never been right. While my grandmother was alive, I couldn’t leave. Living without her would have been like leaving part of my heart behind. Yes, that sounds corny, but it’s true. Still, even since her death we’ve remained planted in the same soil.

As I read Faith’s story, her need to leave behind her home, the place where she felt the pain of loss sharply, I understood her struggle. Do we brush the dust from our shoes and start over somewhere new, or are we to endure and look for blessings in the place we’ve been planted?

I won’t tell you what Faith chose, but I can say for now we remain here. And thanks to Ann, my perspective is a bit different.

As with all of Ann’s books, I highly recommend Where Wildflowers Bloom.