Blog-tember Challenge prompt: The 5 books that have impacted your life the most.
1. The Bible
It sounds like a cliched answer from a Christian, but it’s also quite true for most Christians because the Bible is the Word of God. I can’t tell you how many times I read a verse that pertains to my current situation, a verse that I randomly opened to, the verse of the day from a website or devotional, or a verse that someone shared on a blog.
Specifically for me, the Book of 2 John has impacted my life. It’s a letter addressed to a woman, commended for her faith and leadership in her family and among the believers. I wanted to be like her. I wanted to leave a legacy of faith and goodness.
2. The Nancy Drew series
I adore mysteries because of Nancy Drew. She was smart, resourceful, brave, and kind. The Nancy Drew books helped me look at situations from different perspectives. They trained my mind so that now, I find it easy to figure out plot twists in books and movies. Alright, that’s not always a good thing! It’s like having spoilers in my head. But being able to think in different angles helps with real-life challenges.
3. The Babysitter’s Club series
It’s another series from my childhood. I wanted to be in their club so badly! These books made me excited to work with children. It’s probably why I wanted to be a pediatrician. I wanted a career that helped kids. I also adored the community they built. Their friendships had ups and downs, but they worked through them and came out stronger.
4.The Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
These books ignited my faith and imagination. They were released and grew in popularity at a time in my life where I was extremely interested in the Book of Revelation. I was studying it and trying to make sense of it. Then these books came out and my mom ordered them for me. I devoured them. It made the events in Revelation real and not something far off in the future. It clicked in my head that Jesus really can come at any time.
Also, they are my first Christian books. I didn’t grow up with the Narnia books or Christy and other Christian fiction. I didn’t even know about them. I loved discovering that the genre exists!
5. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
When I read this, I was so confused about the belted sanitary napkins especially since I was too young for all that…and they’ve been long replaced by adhesive ones. I think I received this book from the library’s summer reading program. For every 10 or so books we read, we got to pick from a prize box. The more books we read, the better the prizes. The best prizes were books!
I felt Margaret’s confusion about God, friends, and her body. I also felt a pull between religions: Catholic and Christianity (Pentecostal). I had family who were converting and family hated the conversions (born a Catholic, die a Catholic). I was a young Christian and also kept asking God if He was real and if He was there. It was easy to relate to Margaret!
This book also reminds me that it’s okay to wrestle with my faith and beliefs. God is with me among the questions, the doubts, and the moments where I have to work out my faith.
