Loved As I Am by Sr. Miriam James is, as its subtitle states, “An Invitation to Conversion, Healing, and Freedom through Jesus.” As a bonus, it’s a fast and easy read.
Sr. Miriam James shares the story of her own journey to freedom in chapters that challenge us to pursue the purposes for which God created us, to let love transform us, and to trust that God knows what he is doing.
While I read it, it dawned on me that what Sister wrote was the tip of an iceberg — and when I read the book’s conclusion, Sister confirmed my suspicion: that she wrote the tip of the iceberg on purpose.
“(This book is) a small offering to stimulate your taste for something greater,” she wrote. “I hope you finish this book hungry for more of God.”
I did. And when you read it, you will, too.
In the meantime, here are eight of my favorite excerpts from the book:
“The great journey of authentic love is the most challenging yet most rewarding journey you will ever make.” -page xvi
“There really are only two options: serve God and live in authentic love, or serve the Evil One and live in selfishness. This whole life on earth is a battle between these two choices.” -page 16
“God knew what he was doing in creating you in all your beauty and nobility.” -page 21
“Freedom, in the fullest sense, isn’t doing what we want, when, where, how, and with whom we want. That’s more like license. Freedom is being able to identify what is truly good and to then choose the good.” -page 30
“…purity is not a prize to be won but a beautiful and sacred gift to be received and cherished.” -page 52
“One of the enigmatic things about suffering is that it can lead us out of ourselves and into communion with others.” -page 62
“In the mysterious plan of God, we must go to the Cross with him in order for true resurrection to take place.” -page 73
“Real love is found not in the absence of trial and suffering but in a commitment to the good of the other, whether we feel like it or not.” -page 88
[callout]Click here to order a copy of Loved As I Am: An Invitation to Conversion, Healing, and Freedom.[/callout]