Mimosa
As a general rule, I prefer to read fiction in my free-time. But this particular biography has been one of my greatest exceptions to that rule. I was given it on my birthday, and when I started reading it, I was quickly drawn into the simple yet powerful story it contained. This book has become very precious to me, and I have read it over and over again. I hope through this recommendation, you will feel inclined to read it too, and find the story as compelling as I have.
Mimosa, a book by Amy Carmichael first published in 1924, follows the story of a girl from India named Mimosa as she tries to follow a God she hardly understands while traversing the difficult Hindu landscape of her native culture. Mimosa only spent one afternoon with the Christians of Dohnavur, but the small glimpse of the true God she had there was enough to show her that this was the God she wished to follow. Her story of clinging to the God whom she saw was far greater and more loving than the false gods of her people is a beautiful testimony to the power of the grace of God.
There are not many books that make me cry, but this one did. This story is so dear to me because it gives the greatest glimpse I have ever seen of the child-like faith Christians are called to have. How God called this young woman to follow Him, even though she hardly knew anything about Him, is just amazing to me. And to follow her story as she clings fast to her faith in God through the persecutions that were thrown her way by the Hindu culture brings me to tears. How often people with far more knowledge of God have been turned from the Way by far less! Yet Mimosa held fast to Him, trusting that He knew what was best.
The book itself is written in a fashion that is easy to read. Most of the chapters are only 2-4 pages long, and with 40 chapters and fairly large print, this 147-page book is a quick read.
If you have never read this book, I would highly recommend reading it. It was said in the Bible that a little child shall lead, and so it is in Mimosa. There is much we can learn from the walk of faith traveled by this young woman whom many would have thought fairly ignorant of the truth. This story has drawn me so much closer to God, and I pray it will do the same for those of you who choose to read it.
As this is a Christian book, there aren't many content warnings. But for those of you whose parents could have an issue with this, or if you have an issue with this, Mimosa does get married and have children in the book. However this is not at all portrayed as romance; it is only in there because it is part of her life.
You can find a copy of this book here