Honey for the Soul: This is the Season

Anita B. Williams
FarMor Publishing Company (2007)
ISBN 9780976786214
Reviewed by Tammy Petty Conrad for Reader Views (1/08)

 

Believers know that God appreciates all types of praise. This author has chosen poetry to lift up her thoughts. This is not the rhyming poetry that you may be familiar with, but to me it is more like a form of prose which must be read aloud to be appreciated.

Anita Williams’ love for God is evident as is her confidence in His power. Sometimes the poems are written from God’s perspective speaking to his Son, as in “Freedom.” Other times I hear Anita’s voice telling what I assume is her own story as in “No Longer in the Box.” This is a great anthem for women everywhere who have allowed their selves to be corralled into the limits of what others’ expectations are for them. This author has busted out from confinement!

Some of the poems really speak to where I am in my own life. “Know Who You Are” reminds me that:
This is your season
                        Do not be afraid…
                        If you were not ready
                        You would not be here
                        At this moment in time

I sense from her words that this woman has lived a lot and learned a lot in her lifetime. I also hear her trust and faith in God coming across loud and clear in “Just Love,” like in all of her work:
                        Just Love
                        And know in your heart that
God loves you so much
He gave you a gift
Someone to love and
Someone to love you back
Just Love

Bible verses on each page support the message of the poetry, keeping it grounded in the word of God. Because of these companion Scriptures, some may wish to use the book as a daily devotional. It is conveniently divided into five sections to help readers choose a topic that speaks to them at the exact moment they pick the volume up. On her website, honeyforthesoul.com, the author says “I find it is truly a gift from God to write poetry in the manner in which He has given it to me.”

I know that there are different styles in poetry, but I did find it distracting that there was very little punctuation to break up the words and help the reader know when to pause or to completely stop for the full impact of the words. But maybe that was intentional. Just like the Bible is not always the easiest read, maybe this book, “Honey for the Soul,” is something that needs to be contemplated and reread to appreciate the powerful message throughout the pages.

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