Shades of Light by Sharon Garlough Brown

Author:Sharon Garlough Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: spiritual formation;christian fiction;christian novel;spiritual fiction;novel;depression;depressed;suicide;suicidal;wren;christianity and suicide;christianity and depression;mental illness;mental health;anxiety;anxious;clinical anxiety;clinical depression;christian counseling;pastoral care;therapy;psychology;counseling;counselor;art;art therapy;vincent van gogh;vangogh;van gogh;van gogh painting;sensible shoes;two steps forward;barefoot;extra mile;social work;social worker;healing;
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2019-06-24T14:07:15+00:00

Something was off, Jamie thought as she and Olivia put away the harvest china. There was something Wren wasn’t telling her. It wasn’t flatness in her voice. Jamie had grown accustomed to hearing that. Flatness was normal, part of her ongoing struggle with weariness and discouragement and grief. Flatness Jamie could deal with. But today there had been something artificial and striving in her tone, as if she was trying to convince herself—or her mother—that all was well when it wasn’t.

It wasn’t. Jamie could tell. Her mother’s intuition wasn’t always correct, but it was accurate frequently enough. And that meant the alarm bells within her were pealing. “Thanks for your help today, Liv. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Olivia set one more plate in the cupboard and then checked her phone. “Jess is having a bunch of people over for a movie. Mind if I go?”

“Right now? Phoebe’s been waiting to watch A Christmas Story.” It was a tradition to watch that movie together on Thanksgiving, ever since Dylan introduced it to them on their very first Thanksgiving celebration as a new family of three in America. Phoebe was excited because she remembered getting to stay up late to watch it in her pajamas last year. She’d been talking about it all day. Even Joel, who was pretending it wasn’t a big deal, had offered to make the popcorn.

That had always been Wren’s job, making popcorn on the stove and flavoring it with cheese or cinnamon sugar. Then Wren, Olivia, and Joel would huddle together on the couch and quote lines to one another and laugh. Phoebe had sat on Wren’s lap last year.

“Can’t you go to Jess’s another time?”

Olivia answered with a sigh.

“Or go. I don’t care.” The family had already been separated on Thanksgiving for the first time ever. What was one more family tradition broken?

Olivia hesitated.

“It’s fine, Liv.”

“Not if you’re going to be mad.”

“I’m not mad. Go, love. Have a good time.” She gestured toward the counter. “Take one of your pies over to her. You guys can enjoy it.” They had plenty left over, even if Joel and Dylan would disagree.

“Okay, fine. I’ll stay.”

“You don’t need to stay.”

“It’s fine. I’ll stay.”

“Okay. Suit yourself. It’s your choice.”

“I’ll tell Jess I’ll come over later.”

“Sounds good.” Jamie put away the last of the utensils. “Tell Joel he can start making the popcorn, okay? I’ll join you guys in a few minutes. I’ve got to make a phone call first.”

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