Finding books to read for this channel is always a joy for me.
It is a side hobby, almost. Looking for books.
I’ve learned amazing and sorrowful things along the way.
For example, many public school libraries are marking Christian- themed books with a “Discard” stamp.
These books end up at used book sales, thrift shops, etc.
Books with any Christian theme are slowly being removed from libraries and I seem to find them at used book sales. It seems God Himself helps me find books for this channel. I barely have to hunt for books, they just appear in my lap.
It has evolved into a God-led adventure.
I’m in awe of how God takes charge (when we let Him). Please, Lord, forgive me for all the times I tried to be in charge.
God was a part of it (this idea to start this channel) from the very first book, but then it seemed like God took over (I surrendered to His Will in a much deeper way) and suddenly books I never expected or imagined came my way.
There is always a meaningful backstory to how books become part of this channel’s collection.
This book, “Six White Horses,” was published in 1964, and came into my possession for $1.49. This sort of makes me sad, actually. The book, I now realize, is signed by the author, Candy Geer, AND a signature of the illustrator is on the same page - Leslie Bennett. I have an autographed copy of this book by the author and illustrator and I barely realized the magnitude of it. It’s a treasure and historical, beautiful book to own.
This seems like a gold mine to me now that I’ve researched who Candy Geer is- she’s a monumental contributor to the remembrance of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s funeral.
Let me tell you about her.
Candy Geer was a 15-year old Sophomore at Gross Pointe High School in Michigan, when President Kennedy was shot and killed in November, 1963.
She watched the President’s funeral procession on television with her family. She was so deeply moved by his death, like millions of mourners throughout the world, that she couldn’t sleep that night.
She put her sadness into a poem.
The poem, “Six White Horses,” is based on the point of view of JFK’s three-year old son, “John-John” as he was lovingly called by America and his own family. (John Jr.)
She took her poem to school the next day.
Her friends made copies of it. One student gave it to a radio announcer. The radio station received 32,000 requests for the poem.
I sadly never knew any of this until the book was placed into my hands. I wasn’t even born when Kennedy died, but my Catholic mother talked about him so much, I felt like I knew about him more than most ten-year olds.
Geer’s poem was declared a masterpiece by the Congressional Record in Washington, DC.
Geer’s most treasured possession was a letter from the President’s widow- Mrs. John F. Kennedy.
Holding this book feels like another gift from heaven. The artwork in it was done by another teenager at the time - Leslie Bennett, a senior at Cass Technical High School in Detroit.
All of this seems so special to me. I am exceptionally blessed to have this book and I am privileged to share it with you. If this is new to you, you will enjoy it even more I suppose- like I did.
I try to pan in on Candy Geer’s picture at the end of the story, so you can see the young person who put her compassion onto paper, never knowing people like me would read it 50+ years later.
8 окт 2024
