Recently, Dawn posted a little review of the book Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss, who wrote the hymn “More Love to Thee O Christ” in the 1800s. I read this book about 8 years ago after my mother-in-law gave it to me. Since then, I have gone back and looked at passages from it many times. It is a sweet book about the life of a Christian woman and her struggles with the world as she grew from girlhood into adulthood, married life, and motherhoood. It is written in the style of journal. Though the book does not indicate it, it seems it must be at least somewhat autobiographical. (Although I have not researched this to be sure of this assertion.) Dawn’s mention of it, reminded me how much I have enjoyed it over the years.

Here is one of my favorite passages from Stepping Heavenward. It comes after the main character, Katherine, has been affected by the negative attitude her live-in sister-in-law has expressed about her having another child. Katherine is recording her perspective on what having another child means to her.

Here is a sweet fragrant mouth to kiss; here are two more feet to make music with their pattering about my nursery. Here is a soul to train for God, and the body in which it dwells is worthy of all it will cost, since it is the abode of a kingly tenant. I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer that them all, to whom while I minister in Christ’s name, I make a willing sacrifice of what little leisure for my own recreation my other darlings had left me. Yes, my precious baby, you are welcome to your mother’s heart, welome to her time, her strength, her health, her most tender cares, to her lifelong prayers! Oh how I rich I am, how truly, how wondrously blest!