A (Late) Summer Reading List

I can tell it’s been a while since I updated my blog because every 20 minutes, I find myself composing a blog post in my head. Or maybe that has more to do with the careening thyroid levels I currently have which has led to moments of bone-crushing exhaustion followed by near-manic episodes of energy and inspiration. Either way, in the last few days I’ve been writing down blog post ideas in a word document entitled “My Brain”. Another symptom of thyroid levels being all over the place is brain fog/difficulty concentrating and in my case difficulty formulating sentences. Words just leave me. So in an attempt to adapt, I’ve started the continuously open word document in which I can write down any and all things that I know will leave my brain in about 10 seconds—everything from questions for my doctor to blog post ideas to a shopping list.

I’m getting to a point. What was it again? Right—I’ve got a list of about 10 different blog post inspirations that have come to mind in the last 48 hours. We’ll see how many actually get written. My hope is to post every day this week; we’ll see!

For today, a reading list. Not required reading. Just a bunch of suggestions. I’ve found as a cancer patient that I’m stuck flat on my back more often than I’d like. TV gets boring but a new book is always helpful to pass the time and occupy the mind. I’ve had a wide variety of book suggestions and have read a ton of wonderful fiction novels in the last few months. But I’ve also had some great non-fiction finds; some were sent to me by loving friends, others were suggested, and some were just found along the way. Here’s a few…read them, send them to others you know who are suffering, or whatever!

A Shelter in the Time of Storm: Meditations on God and Trouble by Paul David Tripp

I’ve loved every short meditation in this book and on nights when picking up the Bible seemed too overwhelming, it brought me back to the gospel in a manageable way. Each meditation focuses on a verse from Psalm 27 and has two short questions at the end of the reading for reflection.

Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie

The author buried two of her children before they reached their first birthday due to a rare genetic disorder. She writes from the heart and is clearly understanding of suffering, soothing, and brings you back to the truth of the gospel and God’s love gently. I am looking forward to reading her other books.

Everything Changes: The Insider’s Guide to Cancer in Your 20’s and 30’s by Kairol Rosenthal

Super practical and reassuring for me. It validated many of my feelings and helped me feel a little more sane in my experience of having cancer as a young adult. A compilation of first-hand stories and helpful resources. She also has a blog which I love reading. If you’d like to read a little more about my current situation click on this link.

You Gotta Keep Dancin’ by Tim Hansel

An encouraging read—I’m only 1/2 way through it but since I read that 1/2 in one night, I think it gets the thumbs up. It brought perspective and hope to me in a dark time.

…and two on my personal “To-Read” list—Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty by Joni Eareckson Tada and Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt. I’ll see how they are and let ya know!