“There are some books you read to entertain yourself, like most of the mystery/thriller novels I read. There are others you read looking for a message. This is one of those books and it did not let me down.
My mom passed away almost 11 years ago on my birthday. In this time, I’ve learned that time doesn’t always heal the wound. Some shoes are way too big to ever fill. My mom’s 3 inch heels are one of them.
I was 26 years old when she passed away. I was an adult but I had spent the last 7 years in college and graduate school-all good things-but when she died, I felt that this had stolen time I could have spent with her. I felt and believed that my mother had not yet told me everything she needed to; that she had not yet taught me all I needed to learn.
I found some answers in this book.
The book basically tells us the story of an elderly, crotchety man, who dies while trying to save a young girl’s life at a carnival where he works. Next thing, he wakes up in “heaven” or perhaps it should be better called “heaven’s ante-room.” Here, he learns important life lessons.
The story weaves in and out of the present time at the carnival, the man’s actual life, and “heaven.” In so doing, Albom gives us messages of hope, peace and connection.
Here are some of what I thought were great lines because they brought the message home to me.
“….there are no random acts..that we are all connected…that death doesn’t just take someone, it misses someone else…”
“..when you sacrifice something precious, you’re not really losing it. You are just passing it to someone else.”
“…hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves.”
“..lost love is still love…a different form, that’s all.”
Albom teaches us about sacrifice, forgiveness and most of all..Love
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