I have heard about and drooled over the Lamplighter books since I received a Vision Forum catalog three years ago.  I mentioned in an earlier post that I had found a church library that has numerous wonderful selections including about 30 of these Lamplighter books! 

One of the books that was highly recommended is The Hedge of Thorns.  This book is a mere 80 pages, but each page is so well written that my girls and I thoroughly enjoyed it!  The book is written in the style of a first person narrative telling about the life of a man named John Carrol who lived in the 18th century.  He is raised in a poor but happy home by godly parents. 

Young John's only reason to be unhappy is that he cannot get on the other side of the hedge of thorns.  He seeks to do so, even though he is warned by parent and teacher to leave it alone.  One day, after he has made a small hole, he attempts to push his sister, who is willing to do whatever her brother asks, through the hole to see what is on the other side.  As he pushes through, the hole is not large enough and his sister is terribly injured by the large thorns in her eyes and face.  This is when John's father teaches him many lessons about the protection of hedges and the suffering we bring upon ourselves when we try to push against the hedges God has placed around us. 

I really enjoyed reading this book to my girls because I feel they will be tempted like the author (and me) to fight against the hedge of protection God has given them (Dad and Mom) and trust in their own knowledge of right and wrong instead of in God's strength and Christ's righteousness!

This book is sprinkled with scripture in such a way that the story flows smoothly with it and is greatly enhanced by it!

If you are able to read a copy, I am sure you will really enjoy this profound message of the gospel!

To see the Lamplighter collection you can go to this site: http://www.thealertstore.com/brand?mv_arg=1000073&mv_pc=glamp0&gclid=CL68lZSA5Y4CFQUsPAod3UGdNQ

In Him,