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Many Windows: Seasons of the Heart
“These small sermons in stone should provide inspirational reading. …She writes about the world of nature as she sees it through her windows and colors it with her own intensely personal philosophy. This view is enlarged to encompass the view both outward and inward which is seen by the mind, heart and spirit as well as the physical eye. The verities are all here; love of God and stranger, loss of self, quietude.”—Kirkus
From the Jacket:
“In Many Windows Faith Baldwin has written a heart-warming book—an inspirational journey through the seasons, during which she shares her thoughts, hopes, joys, sorrows and her abiding faith in God. This highly personal almanac will give strength, vision, courage and consolation to every reader.
The summer thunderstorm, the tornado, the tidal, wave in nature often come without warning but always there is a return to sunlight. “Anxiety is difficult to overcome, fear is a heavy burden, and panic intolerable . . . No storm in nature lasts forever, nor does the storm in the life of the individual ... In the eye of every storm is God ... to find Him in prayer, in trust and in courage is immeasurable security, for it is to know, understand and accept His will.”
From Many Windows:
I don’t understand modern philosophy much better than I do modern art but, at least, I have gathered that it is now the fashion to deny anything save a quite involuntary existence, thus disproving God. Next year, ten years hence, another generation, and perhaps we can disprove that anyone exists at all.
One thing I do know: that neither God, nor Love, which is part of God, is illusion. Those who disprove God believe they live without Him. If I tell them that’s an illusion, they will not believe me.
For me He is not illusion, He is the dispeller of illusion, the Giver of all life, the Reason for it.
Wherever we are, whatever troubles us, the events that disturb and pass, there is always Love. Few of us are, or have been, without it—family, friends—whether or not they are still with us—the dog beside the chair, the cat walking solitary in the moonlight. Few of us are without hope, illusion or not. Few, spurred by necessity too big to be denied, are without courage, and it is, usually, not for ourselves, but for others.
Look at the woman who has been told that presently she must die, that for her there is no remedy in medicine or surgery. She says, “Do not tell anyone. I am still young. I am able to work. I must see that my children have as much of a future as I can still provide for them.” Is this not courage?…
Man is a curious mixture of cowardice and bravery, cunning and honesty, selfishness and self-sacrifice. But, when we consider the hundreds we have met, is there not cause for rejoicing? I think so.
Let current philosophers dissent. They cannot disprove to me what I have witnessed.
From the Jacket:
“In Many Windows Faith Baldwin has written a heart-warming book—an inspirational journey through the seasons, during which she shares her thoughts, hopes, joys, sorrows and her abiding faith in God. This highly personal almanac will give strength, vision, courage and consolation to every reader.
The summer thunderstorm, the tornado, the tidal, wave in nature often come without warning but always there is a return to sunlight. “Anxiety is difficult to overcome, fear is a heavy burden, and panic intolerable . . . No storm in nature lasts forever, nor does the storm in the life of the individual ... In the eye of every storm is God ... to find Him in prayer, in trust and in courage is immeasurable security, for it is to know, understand and accept His will.”
From Many Windows:
I don’t understand modern philosophy much better than I do modern art but, at least, I have gathered that it is now the fashion to deny anything save a quite involuntary existence, thus disproving God. Next year, ten years hence, another generation, and perhaps we can disprove that anyone exists at all.
One thing I do know: that neither God, nor Love, which is part of God, is illusion. Those who disprove God believe they live without Him. If I tell them that’s an illusion, they will not believe me.
For me He is not illusion, He is the dispeller of illusion, the Giver of all life, the Reason for it.
Wherever we are, whatever troubles us, the events that disturb and pass, there is always Love. Few of us are, or have been, without it—family, friends—whether or not they are still with us—the dog beside the chair, the cat walking solitary in the moonlight. Few of us are without hope, illusion or not. Few, spurred by necessity too big to be denied, are without courage, and it is, usually, not for ourselves, but for others.
Look at the woman who has been told that presently she must die, that for her there is no remedy in medicine or surgery. She says, “Do not tell anyone. I am still young. I am able to work. I must see that my children have as much of a future as I can still provide for them.” Is this not courage?…
Man is a curious mixture of cowardice and bravery, cunning and honesty, selfishness and self-sacrifice. But, when we consider the hundreds we have met, is there not cause for rejoicing? I think so.
Let current philosophers dissent. They cannot disprove to me what I have witnessed.
146 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1958
About the author
Faith Baldwin
176 books37 followersFaith Baldwin attended private academies and finishing schools, and in 1914-16 she lived in Dresden, Germany. She married Hugh H. Cuthrell in 1920, and the next year she published her first novel, Mavis of Green Hill. Although she often claimed she did not care for authorship, her steady stream of books belies that claim; over the next 56 years she published more than 85 books, more than 60 of them novels with such titles as Those Difficult Years (1925), The Office Wife (1930), Babs and Mary Lou (1931), District Nurse (1932), Manhattan Nights (1937), and He Married a Doctor (1944). Her last completed novel, Adam's Eden, appeared in 1977.
Typically, a Faith Baldwin book presents a highly simplified version of life among the wealthy. No matter what the difficulties, honour and goodness triumph, and hero and heroine are united. Evil, depravity, poverty, and sex found no place in her work, which she explicitly intended for the housewife and the working girl. The popularity of her writing was enormous. In 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, she published five novels in magazine serial form and three earlier serials in volume form and saw four of her works made into motion pictures, for an income that year in excess of $315,000. She also wrote innumerable stories, articles, and newspaper columns, no less ephemeral than the novels.
Typically, a Faith Baldwin book presents a highly simplified version of life among the wealthy. No matter what the difficulties, honour and goodness triumph, and hero and heroine are united. Evil, depravity, poverty, and sex found no place in her work, which she explicitly intended for the housewife and the working girl. The popularity of her writing was enormous. In 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, she published five novels in magazine serial form and three earlier serials in volume form and saw four of her works made into motion pictures, for an income that year in excess of $315,000. She also wrote innumerable stories, articles, and newspaper columns, no less ephemeral than the novels.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 7, 2011
This was Faith Baldwin's second book of monthly essays, the first was Face Toward the Spring, and this one is just as well-written and uplifting. These two volumes have been a constant source of comfort, wisdom, and thoughtfulness for me this year. They've become favorites to keep and reread.
Highly recommended, definitely worth seeking out a copy.
Highly recommended, definitely worth seeking out a copy.
November 1, 2018
This is the second of several books of inspirational essays by Faith Baldwin. I read many of Faith Baldwin’s novels before I discovered this series, and they’ve been on my keeper shelf ever since. There are no fireworks here; reading these essays is like reading someone’s journal in which they’ve recorded their thoughts and feelings about different life events. Faith Baldwin’s writing style is a little dignified by today’s standards (these books were originally published in the 1950s) but you also catch glimpses of her humor, resiliency, and, especially, her abiding faith in God. I just finished re-reading the book (again!), and enjoyed her wise, inspiring words just as much as the first time I read them.
Other books in the series are:
Face Toward the Spring
Many Windows, Seasons of the Heart
Testament of Trust
Harvest of Hope
Evening Star
Other books in the series are:
Face Toward the Spring
Many Windows, Seasons of the Heart
Testament of Trust
Harvest of Hope
Evening Star
November 14, 2017
I read this book because I remember my mom having a set of books by Faith Baldwin she got through a book club sponsored, I think, by a publisher. The books were red with gold lettering. I do not remember any of the titles from the series she had.
This book was published in 1958. It is a series of essays Ms. Baldwin wrote for the months of the year where spiritual thought was discussed. The messages she had to give were muddled because the train of thought never connected through each essay to its conclusion. Rather, Ms. Baldwin interrupts her train of thought by remembering people, places and events from her past that strayed completely off topic. However, the saving element of the book, for me, were these rambling reminiscences. I enjoyed reading about her life. It was like a window into a never-to-return time.
Ultimately, I have to say the book was not well-written. But, if you enjoy people talking about days gone by, this will be an entertaining book.
This book was published in 1958. It is a series of essays Ms. Baldwin wrote for the months of the year where spiritual thought was discussed. The messages she had to give were muddled because the train of thought never connected through each essay to its conclusion. Rather, Ms. Baldwin interrupts her train of thought by remembering people, places and events from her past that strayed completely off topic. However, the saving element of the book, for me, were these rambling reminiscences. I enjoyed reading about her life. It was like a window into a never-to-return time.
Ultimately, I have to say the book was not well-written. But, if you enjoy people talking about days gone by, this will be an entertaining book.
August 27, 2026
I really liked this. Its like hearing from a sweet wise grandma. I was browsing in Half Price Book Store and was drawn to the title. I read the synopsis and saw God and was sold. Glad I bought it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews