Cynthia Ruchti, Featured Author ~ Plus, Monthly Book Give-Away

 

Cynthia Ruchti ~ www.cynthiaruchti.com

 

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I many continually resort:  thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.  Psalm 71:3

Dear Readers, today I'd like to introduce to you Cynthia Ruchti.  Cynthia tells stories of hope through her novels and novellas, nonfiction books and devotionals, speaking for women’s events and retreats, writers’ events and retreats, drawing from 33 years of on-air radio ministry.  I've asked Cynthia to write our devotional today.  Let's welcome her.

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Another Mother’s Day without a mother. I remember the moment I became an adult orphan. My dad had died in 1993 of a massive heart attack in the middle of the night. I feel the loss of him every day, but I also feel the joy of having known him.

 

Mom sold the house and moved three hours north a couple of months after Dad died. We say it was so she could be close to the hugs. Her three daughters lived within 25 miles of her new apartment-for-one. She stayed there, within the circle of our embrace, for seventeen years until heart disease stole her last breath.

 

The moment she was gone, we siblings sang, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” because she’d gotten her wish after a long, hard, oh so hard illness—to shake free of this earth, see Jesus face to face, and be reintroduced to my dad in glory-form.

 

The second moment after she was gone, I realized I was an orphan. The fact that I was a full-grown adult didn’t erase that sober realization.

 

And now, another Mother’s Day is here and I’m not searching for just the right card or just the right gift for her.

 

Mother’s Day doesn’t bring joy to everyone. It’s a hard day for those who’ve lost a mom. It’s a hard day for those who long to be moms and aren’t. It’s difficult to watch others receive flowers and fancy cards when your children are missing, misguided, estranged, or gone.

 

When I wrote When the Morning Glory Blooms, I knew some readers would celebrate its babies and its mothers. Some would mourn never knowing the weight of a daughter or son in their arms. Some readers would watch the characters struggle through the aftereffects of unplanned or unwed pregnancies and relive those scenes from their own lives. Some will recognize the sacrifices their moms made for them. Others will long for the kind of love they see expressed in the pages. 

 

I wish I could give my mom When the Morning Glory Blooms for Mother’s Day. I’d love to point out that the maternity ward in the 1950s story is taken from her descriptions. I’d love to show her that her tenacious prayers for my writing life are still having an impact.

 

Two weeks before she died, my debut novel’s Advanced Reader Copies arrived in the mail. After having prayed for me and for that project for so many years, she held it in her hands and said, “Oh! My book!” Then she paused and added, “I mean, our book.”

 

My Mother’s Day card to her this year would have read, “Mom, thanks for your prayers. Another novel is born.”

 

Thank you, Rose, for letting my thoughts wander to the rich heritage of loving parents. I’d love to hear from readers about the kinds of thoughts Mother’s Day evokes for them. If readers would like to connect with me, they can do so through www.cynthiaruchti.com, www.twitter.com/cynthiaruchti, or www.facebook.com/cynthiaruchtireaderpage. When the Morning Glory Blooms is available wherever books are sold or through the direct “buy now” link on my website.


Now, for an opportunity to win a beautiful copy of  When the Morning Glory Blooms:

At least ten readers must comment and share in order for there to be a book give-away. So come on everyone. It's easy.  Join in. Follow these steps to qualify for the random drawing.

1. Leave a comment on this blog (my favorite part!) which includes your name and email address if you want to be included in the drawing. I will use your email address to contact you if you win. To leave a comment, click on the pencil icon or the word comment at the end of this blog post.

2. Share this blog post on Facebook so your friends will read about it and visit too.

3. Tweet, tweet, tweet IF you have twitter, and mention the book give-away on your own blog if you have one. It would be great as well and an extra perk for me if you would become a follower of this site, so you won't miss a single post. But, #3 is optional.

Complete these steps by 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 11th.   A winner will be announced here on Monday, May 12th, so be sure to check back to see if you've won. 


Thank you for participating in the monthly give-away.  This feature of Write Moments with God is so much fun for me.   I'll leave you with one of Cynthia's favorite verses.

For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.  Psalm 71:5