Beloved Mess by Kimm Crandall is a 2016 inspirational book that my church librarian was kind enough to order for our library at my recommendation. I had read about the book, and it sounded like something that would help me in my day-to-day Christian walk. As the cover’s blurb said, it is “…funny, arresting, radical, and best of all, true.”
The author confesses to being a big mess. In some ways, the book itself is a mess, but the author reminds us that by God’s grace, the messes are “beloved.”
The book is encouraging for people who have experienced depression and feel they are not good Christians or even good people because they do have these feelings. Crandall points to our weaknesses, which are ok because we have “Christ who strengthens us.” We are not strong, but because He is, it is ok.
Another jacket blurb points out, “God is not waiting for you to clean up your act before you come home to Him. In fact, He wants you to stop trying to fix the mess and allow Him to wash it away.”
In all the messiness of life and the messes we get ourselves into, the author consistently reminds us that we and our messes are beloved by our Heavenly Father.
powerfulwomenreaders 
Have you ever read Anne Lamott? Lamott is a prototypical “real mess,” and an unlikely Christian. Lamott is one of my favorite writers because she’s genuine and paradoxical. But she doesn’t suit all; I wouldn’t ask the church librarian to order her books. Instead, I’d be happy to lend one of mine if you want to try a chapter or two.
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I’ll give any author a trial try.
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Am busy with Brene Brown at the moment–thanks to you–but may look into Lamott at a later date.
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