When life gives you lemons, make lemonade

When I think of this quote, it is spoken in the voice of a dear friend who has suffered the loss of a marriage, the pain of adult children with drug and mental health issues, physical disabilities, and recently the loss of her mother and the subsequent rejection of her elderly father. She holds to the attitude ‘when life offers lemons, make lemonade.’ Her strength and faith inspire me and bring to mind one of my favorite inspirational author’s, Anne Lamott.

Ms. Lamott needs little introduction, but I didn’t discover her writing until a few years ago. I like the grittiness with which Lamott writes and her ability to dial in on the subjects of life, death, grace, hope, and prayer. She doesn’t claim to know “all the answers or even that much about God,” yet she somehow manages to strike a chord of truth. In a world where there exists a myriad of belief systems, Lamott is able to tap into the things that tether us together in our humanness: feelings of pain, sorrow, excitement, and joy. Whether you’re inspired by a beautiful sunrise, an unexpected blessing, or the written word, you will find a few touch points in one of these three books.

In Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, Lamott describes ‘Help’ as the prayer when hope seems hopeless: the admission we’re stuck, can’t fix it, throwing up our white surrender flag. She concludes this may be the miracle in itself; realizing you’re lost, but that in surrendering you’ve won… which may lead you to give ‘thanks.’ ‘Thanks’ prayers, Lamott continues, may be as simple as the relief and gratitude of dodging a bullet, and the ‘Wow’ prayers she sums up can be spring. Spring being hope, beauty and glory all wrapped up to awaken our winter dulled senses to new life.

In her book Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair she describes the book as “a patchwork of moments, memories, connections and stories.” Drawing from her personal life, she poses the question: how do you make sense out of the curve balls life throws. She echoes the cry of many by asking the tough questions, questions that arise as we go through life. Lamott writes with an openness and transparency providing insight by illustrating our humanity.

Lamott’s latest inspirational book, Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace is summarized this way: the author offers a new message of hope that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness… Our victories over hardship and pain may seem small (she writes) but they change us. Lamott writes of forgiveness, restoration, and transformation and how we can turn to love even in the most hopeless situations. Theology aside, Anne Lamott speaks the language of the heart which is hard to deny. It is why I’ve come to respect this author.

I read for pleasure, for knowledge, and for inspiration. Anne Lamott is just one of many inspiring and encouraging authors that I read. The library has been a great resource for meeting my need to be encouraged and helped along the way.