Everything is a different sort of book from what I usually read. I don't think it would be exaggerating to say I never read contemporary.
I also admittedly don't read a huge amount of "Christian" fiction. But when I saw this one I decided I should try it.
I found out about The King's daughters Online Writing Camp through a friend and recently joined it. It's a sweet group of Christian ladies who gather together (online) a few times a year to set goals and write (it is partly because of them that I started this blog!). While with them, I saw that they publish their own short story collections. I was curious so I took a closer look. It wasn't precisely up my ally, but I chose to get it anyway. I must say I also bought it because I thought it looked like a pleasing exciting sort of book.
So what was is like? Well it was an adventure, but a different sort of adventure than usual. For me part of the adventure was eagerly going from story to story, wondering what might come next. It is really amazing darting from one character's troubles and life to another so quickly.
There were twenty-one different stories, twenty-one different characters going through troubles and struggles all their own. It added a bit more meaning to the theme "everything" even as the word "everything" was woven in some way or other into each story.
Some were rather sad and emotional, but a few were fun. Not all were contemporary, there were quite a few historical fiction stories, and even a mystery and a fantasy. There wasn't any romance and that's always a big plus for me. haha
The most prevalent theme was the truth that God works everything for good for those who love him. He works through trials and uses everything for good (and not always the way characters expect).
(Romans 8:28)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
I think the above quote by Katja H. Labonte captures this fairly well. No matter how many trials, no matter the difficulty God is working it all for good and, looking back, we can often see how God used it for his glory.
Here's a few other quotes that I marked with my book darts.
My problems were so small in my sight as I measured His infinity, yet to Him they were important and worth taking care of. He loved me so. How could I but trust Him?
-Katja H. Labonte
This is from the same short story as the first. I loved how Katja brought out how glorious God is and how tiny we and our trials are compared to Him. Yet He cares for His people and is working all for good. In light of God's glory and goodness we should find ourselves trusting him more (with everything). It's easy to forget and so good to be reminded of.
But sometimes you have to lose everything to lose yourself. To lose your self-satisfying and sufficiency. Would I understand all of it now? No, I scoffed to myself. I didn’t understand any of it now. But I knew that maybe years in the future I’d be able to look back and see everything that God had done through this moment. Through losing it all. Through the wrestle. Somehow, through losing everything, I gained something more important-faith. - A. F. Kopp
I think I marked this one because it brought out how God uses suffering and trials to make us completely dependent upon Him and not ourselves. Trials and troubles refine and strengthen our faith.
“Today is a gift, and I’m giving as much of it away as I can.” -Bethany Griggs
This story spoke sweetly of how we can be a blessing to others no matter where we are in life. No matter how I feel, today is a gift and a blessing; a gift to be given away to others.
It was just an ordinary garden, full of ordinary fruits and vegetables. Nothing like something from outer space or a fairy tale. And there was something magical in that. How something ordinary could grow, and nurture, and connect. -Cassie Creley
This story particularly stuck out to me. Maybe it was because the main character loved nature and was always imagining fantastical things about it. Ruby had very few exciting things happening in her life outside of dealing with her chronic illness, but she found adventure and wonder in a little garden that she planted. She used it to bless others and in a small way it taught her to wait on the Lord. There's wonder in the ordinary things.
Well! Those are all the quotes I have marked out (I always have the feeling I've missed something good when I finish with a book, and I probably have haha).
Here are few stories that that I liked best even though I didn't catch any quotes from them.
The very first story by Bree Pembrook, was a sweet narrative about a boy who joins George Mullers orphanage. I loved the story idea for this and the fact that it included George Muller.
A mystery by Bethany Willcock, about two sisters trying to solve a puzzle their deceased uncle had left them. The writing was fun and so was the mystery and the end was very satisfying (Sherlock Holmes Easter eggs!).
A story by Angie Thompson about an old lady sending pretend messages through a robin up north to the family she once cared for. The robin and the woman's Irish(or was it Scottish?) accent won me over quickly.
One adorable fantasy about two fairies trying to organize a party for their friend. I loved the story idea and the world.
In conclusion it was a new experience, but a good one. I was happy to find a Christian story collection that was not romance and while it's still not my preferred genre there was something special about it.
A final thought. Even though the book didn't completely capture this, another theme that ran below the surface was this: everything is worked by God for His glory and He Himself is sovereign over Everything. Which is an incredibly wonderful thought.
(Psalm 150:6)
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
P.S If you would like to read the Everything short story collection for yourself here's a link. : ) https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Kings-Daughters-Story-Collection/dp/B0BW363RZ1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3F57AAXVJ66HZ&keywords=everything+king%27s+daughters+collection&qid=1679088176&sprefix=everything+king%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-1