The Shepherd's Song

As Kate McConnell is rushed into surgery, she vaguely remembers the car accident that brought her to  where she is presently. As she tries desperately to piece it all together she remembers the fight she had with her son upon finding a note she wrote to him that simply contained the words of the 23rd Psalm on it. Tucked away in his coat pocket she had hoped that one day he might find his way to Jesus but once again he fought her constant efforts to remind him of his shortcoming in still remaining the prodigal son. Now as she slips into that perfect sleep brought on by the administrations of medication before surgery, she releases her life to Jesus asking only that He make her life count somehow.

As John McConnell rushes to the hospital hoping to meet his son Matt there, neither of them can understand how Kate has managed to be in an accident. She was literally the rock that kept the family together, and after meeting with her doctor, he can only provide them with a vague answer that she might be able to pull through despite the odds against her. Now all Matt and John can do is to pray that God will return Kate to them. All Matt can remember is their argument this morning and how despite his mom's best intentions, he never meant for these to be his final words to her. He struggles with understanding that his mom isn't looking to interfering with his life, but to enable him to find a source of peace and contentment in including Jesus in it. He only wishes he can have the opportunity to tell her himself.

In the novel, The Shepherd's Song, by authors Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers, as known as the Writing Sisters,  they take a simple random event like the notation of the 23rd Psalm and show how God can take something simple and connect all the dots along the way. It reminded me of Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven. How each person who encounters Kate McConnell's handwritten note containing only the 23rd Psalm makes life changing moments occur all around the world, from a young man who wears the coat on the snowy night that Kate is rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, knowing he will return the coat to the cleaners in the morning and finds the note in the pocket, to a chance meeting in a coffee house where he passes the note along to a girl he meets there who is writing to her brother in the war in Iraq. From there it finds its way into the hands of just the right person who needs to hear another line in the 23rd Psalm, where it winds up full circle again to the man who needs to hear it the most.

This is one of those novels that once you read it, you walk away with a feeling of touching something inspiring and touched by God. It really makes you consider all those random moments we have every single day that when it is all said and done, Jesus shows us where it all those ripples lead and how we are each connected to one another in remarkable ways. The authors compare this much to Andy Andrew's The Butterfly Effect which I agree. I thought the ending would be different than what I imagined but love where they took it instead. This is the perfect book for those that often wonder what their life's purpose is and just where God is at in all the day to day happenings in our life. I easily give this book a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. I received this book compliments of the authors Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers who reached out to me and asked I would review this for them. I am so humbled and honored that they did! I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

For more information about The Shepherd's Song, Betsy Duffey, Laurie Myers or where to pre-order  a copy of this book that is due out in early March of 2014, please click on the links below:

The Shepherd's Song by Betsy Duffey and Lauire Myers

You can find out more information about Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers, as known as the Writing Sisters by visiting their Facebook page. 

To read more reviews on The Shepherd's Song, please visit Howard Book's website. 

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books (March 11, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1476738203
• ISBN-13: 978-1476738208
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches