Emily wrote our first entry on our final chapters -- 18 and 19. This is what she said about her picture: "I have included a picture of me and mom because she is the person who I am closest to and she is a major influence in my life. I am so lucky to have her there for me everyday." You'll see in Emily's entry that she really values friendships, and it sounds like her mom is one of her best friends! Happy reading.
Having been assigned the last two chapters, I knew I was going to have to read the entire book to understand the end. Initially, I believed that this book was going to be three women discussing their faiths in a concise and matter of fact manner, but what I found was that it was an amazing story of growing in faith, learning, and gaining acceptance and understanding of others.
As the book came to a close, Ranya, Priscilla, and Suzanne had become more than women discussing faith, they were friends that leaned on one another for support and guidance. As I read this story, I began thinking about the friends that I have and their faiths. I realized that I am not close to many people of different faiths, and I began to envy the relationship that the women of The Faith Club share. For years I have wondered about life after death and how to handle “faltering faith.”
The struggles that Priscilla faced regarding her faith really spoke to me. I started thinking about the way that I perceive faith, and how I determine if God has abandoned me or not. Priscilla has panic attacks when she is feeling overwhelmed by life, and she correlates her panic attacks with times that she feels that she has lost faith. I was surprised by her reaction because I tend to rely heavily on my faith when I am struggling. Thankfully, Priscilla has women who she can talk to, and they can help her through the difficult times.
The friendship that is formed between the women is made stronger by the obstacles that they had to overcome. Each woman had to learn to accept the other’s religious differences, and as they overcame stereotypes, their friendship became stronger. The strength of their friendship made me think about how important companionship is to people, and the friendships that I have. I depend on my friends to be there for me in good times and bad. Ranya, Priscilla, and Suzanne were all there for one another when each woman was looking for answers in regards to her spirituality and faith.
In the final chapter, questions surface about life after death, and whether there is a heaven. Priscilla included a poem called Epitaph by Merritt Malloy. The poem allowed me to see death in a new light, and it helped to allay some of the fears that I have regarding death. As a Christian person, I believe in heaven, but I have always wondered about the people who are left behind on Earth. The pain that comes with death is severe for those close to the deceased, and the poem reminded me that while the person may be gone, the love that they shared and gave to people is not.
Reading this book gave me new insight about other faiths. I found the information and stories shared by each woman relevant to things that I have gone through in life. For years I have felt like my faith was faltering, and it was inspiring to read how each woman found her way back to God and increased her faith along the way. As I read this book, I found that so many of my questions about religion were answered by each woman, that my faith in God was renewed.
I, too, have been really impressed with the friendship between these three women, as well as their courageous exploration of their own faiths and each others'. They really experienced an incredible transformation, both as individuals and as a group, and I'm so glad they took the time to describe their journey in writing for us to share!
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