This is the sixth book in Jeanette Oke’s Women of the West series. This story is about a young lady who at the book’s beginning had just graduated from the eighth grade. Back in the mid eighteen hundreds that was a lot of education for a woman to have. Quite often they didn’t go that far in their education. Many were needed at home to help they mother with household chores. Unless you were from a rich family a young woman didn’t get to pursue a higher education.
Anna Trent wanted nothing more than to continue on in her education, so it was with a heavy heart that she received her eighth grade certificate . Anna was an obedient and humble girl and wasn’t the least bit interested in dating. She became friends with a seminary student pastor who came to her church to temporarily replace their regular pastor who was taking the summer off. Pastor Austin Baker would lend her books she could read to further her knowledge into the scriptures. He marveled at her intelligence and eagerness to learn. After he left the church to return to seminary they kept up their friendship through writing letters to one another. No one was more surprised than Anna when Austin asked her to be his wife. Anna felt she wasn’t qualified to be a pastor’s wife. She was just a simple girl lacking in education with not much to offer as a life partner to a pastor.
I fell in love with the characters in this story. I loved that Anna was so humble and sincere in her faith. She did not see herself as others seen her. The author shared with readers how pastors in that time era struggled financially to make ends meet. Their only source of income came from a percentage of what church members put in the offering plate. Often they went without enough food and couldn’t afford clothes. This was very hard especially for young pastors that went to a town to start a new church, as was the case here for Anna and Austin. They had to count their change and make do with what they had. They had to trust God many times to provide for their needs. I felt this story was very realistic inspirational.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy Janette Oke’s Classic stories. All books in this series can be read as a stand alone.
I borrowed a copy of this book from the digital library. A review wasn’t requested . All opinions expressed here are my own.
Author
nancyb
3 years ago
Romans 10:8-13
The Measure of a Heart (Women of the West #6) Paperback – April 1, 1998
Janette Oke has written another lovely book about a woman and her Christ-like attributes.
The more I read this book, the better it gets!
Anna has completed her 8th grade education, and is sad about not being able to continue going to school,
because she has a gift from God of loving to learn. She’s needed to help her family on their farm, so she must
say good-bye to further education. Anna is an unselfish, quiet and kind person, open to the needs of others.
Her upbringing gave her an inner commitment to God and His ways.
She got married, and was such a fitting helper for her husband! As time progresses, Anna
finds out how important she is to God, and this book covers some deep spiritual truths.
The development of Anna’s personality
as the book progresses is truly enjoyable to read about, and I highly recommend this book, The Measure of
a Heart, by Janette Oke.
Romans 10:8-13; John 3:16-21
By Janette Oke
This is the sixth book in Jeanette Oke’s Women of the West series. This story is about a young lady who at the book’s beginning had just graduated from the eighth grade. Back in the mid eighteen hundreds that was a lot of education for a woman to have. Quite often they didn’t go that far in their education. Many were needed at home to help they mother with household chores. Unless you were from a rich family a young woman didn’t get to pursue a higher education.
Anna Trent wanted nothing more than to continue on in her education, so it was with a heavy heart that she received her eighth grade certificate . Anna was an obedient and humble girl and wasn’t the least bit interested in dating. She became friends with a seminary student pastor who came to her church to temporarily replace their regular pastor who was taking the summer off. Pastor Austin Baker would lend her books she could read to further her knowledge into the scriptures. He marveled at her intelligence and eagerness to learn. After he left the church to return to seminary they kept up their friendship through writing letters to one another. No one was more surprised than Anna when Austin asked her to be his wife. Anna felt she wasn’t qualified to be a pastor’s wife. She was just a simple girl lacking in education with not much to offer as a life partner to a pastor.
I fell in love with the characters in this story. I loved that Anna was so humble and sincere in her faith. She did not see herself as others seen her. The author shared with readers how pastors in that time era struggled financially to make ends meet. Their only source of income came from a percentage of what church members put in the offering plate. Often they went without enough food and couldn’t afford clothes. This was very hard especially for young pastors that went to a town to start a new church, as was the case here for Anna and Austin. They had to count their change and make do with what they had. They had to trust God many times to provide for their needs. I felt this story was very realistic inspirational.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy Janette Oke’s Classic stories. All books in this series can be read as a stand alone.
I borrowed a copy of this book from the digital library. A review wasn’t requested . All opinions expressed here are my own.
Romans 10:8-13
The Measure of a Heart (Women of the West #6) Paperback – April 1, 1998
Janette Oke has written another lovely book about a woman and her Christ-like attributes.
The more I read this book, the better it gets!
Anna has completed her 8th grade education, and is sad about not being able to continue going to school,
because she has a gift from God of loving to learn. She’s needed to help her family on their farm, so she must
say good-bye to further education. Anna is an unselfish, quiet and kind person, open to the needs of others.
Her upbringing gave her an inner commitment to God and His ways.
She got married, and was such a fitting helper for her husband! As time progresses, Anna
finds out how important she is to God, and this book covers some deep spiritual truths.
The development of Anna’s personality
as the book progresses is truly enjoyable to read about, and I highly recommend this book, The Measure of
a Heart, by Janette Oke.
Romans 10:8-13; John 3:16-21