Weekend Book Review: Stained Glass Hearts ~ Seeing Life from a Broken Perspective

I first heard Patsy Clairmont speak at a Women of Faith event several years back. I was immediately intrigued by this spunky, hilarious, petite, recovering agoraphobic who was speaking her heart out in encouragment to other women. After returning home, I started building a little collection of Patsy's books (she's written quite a few) so I was super-excited to see her latest title available for review.

If you know anything about Patsy, you'll know that she once lived life as a prisoner of agoraphobia, panic attacks, and depression. Because of my own struggles with the like, I was instantly drawn to and encouraged by Patsy's testimony of struggle and eventual healing in Christ.

This book, Stained Glass Hearts: Seeing Life from a Broken Perspective, discusses how we all live lives that become broken simply because we live in a sin-stained world. Comparing the believer's human life to a stained glass window, Patsy writes on how God builds a beautiful and purposeful life from the broken pieces that we often see as hindrances and setbacks.

Of course, this book is written with the same humorous, simplistic, yet so insightful style that all of Patsy's other books are written. She tells it like it is, and many times I remember thinking, "Wow, I'm so glad she was honest about that because I feel that way too." This book is a light, enjoyable reading, but it is also so full of encouragement and truth, especially for someone struggling to see how God could use their broken pieces to make a work of art.

Patsy also includes suggested art pieces, music, and scripture readings for the reader to look at on their own. This was a new and interesting twist on this book. As someone who really worships through music, I appreciated the music suggestions.

I really liked this book. It was such an encouragment to me. One of my favorite passages from it is as follows:

"Just as stained windows require ongoing repair and protection through the years, so do we. But you knew that. Life is a strong teacher of such things. But I have to repeat to myself some truths again and again or they slip my mind. My busy-about-many-things lifestyle can cause me to buzz right past my needs until I start to shard. Then, stopped in my tracks, this truth comes to me: 'Oh, yes. I need to be still for repairs.' To the degree I respond, I gain a healthier perspective."

I can definitely relate to the subject matter of this book, so it's making its home right there on my bookshelf among all of my other favorites.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.