A Reluctant Bride Quotes

“Would not the world be a better place if a man simply lived in humility and loved his brother or sister as himself, regardless of one’s birth?”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“My sister always said if we’re stronger in body, that just means we’ve got more responsibility from the good Lord to take care of any who are weaker.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Please know this, Miss Wilkins. I am most reservedly saving my affection for one woman only, the woman I plan to marry. When God brings that woman into my life, I pray I shall be found worthy of her love. That for having refrained from giving my love away to others. I might have an overflowing abundance to bestow upon her alone.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Don't get stuck, Mercy. Don't get stuck thinking you don't matter or you're not important enough. I know for people like us who come from lowly backgrounds, we all too often accept our place at the bottom and think that's where we belong. But that's just not true. God didn't create some people to be better than others. He created everyone to have equal value.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“It was as if she’d been stuck her entire life in a tiny overcrowded corner that had defined her existence, ignorant of the spacious world that existed beyond her.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Though her hair was damp and unkempt, face smudged and weary, her garments soggy and splattered with all manner of filth, for a reason he couldn’t explain, she had grown more beautiful and not less.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“want you to remember that when we’re troubled on every side,” Patience said, her voice wavering, “we can’t get caught up in seeing the problems from our view. God’s so much bigger and has things worked out in His ways—ways we can’t begin to understand.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“I may not be able to help everyone,” Bates said slowly, “but I help those God places in my path each day. One life at a time, one small difference at a time. My methods are not revolutionary. But I’m doing the small part God’s called me to, and when I obey Him, He gives me the strength I need to accomplish the task at hand.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“When God gives us someone or something, we must not spurn his gift. We must cherish it until our dying breath.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“I want you to remember that when we're troubled on every side," Patience said, her voice wavering, "we can't get caught up in seeing the problems from our view. God's so much bigger and has things worked out in His ways - ways we can't begin to understand.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Mercy is doing her part to make a difference," Bates continued. "Now, imagine if every did that - took a small part in reaching out. Then imagine if all those small parts were added together. We'd be able to accomplish a great deal of good."
Joseph nodded. He knew the changes had to begin somewhere. Starting small was better than sitting around and simply complaining about the problems, as many of his peers were wont to do. He'd heard of organizations forming charities, of other concerned members of the upper class who genuinely desired to provide relief to the poor as his father had wanted to do. But was it too little, too late?
"The question I have for you, son, is this," Bates replaced his spectacles and peered through the lenses in his direct manner. "What's the small part God's calling you to? Are you seeking His leading or are you running away from it?”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“As the physical voyage took place, I also took my characters on a voyage of self-discovery. The truth is, we are shaped by our pasts - both the good and the bad influence who we become. But the other truth is, our voyage isn't over. If we allow God to come in and guide our journey, He'll give us the courage we need to shift course when necessary, to battle the storms, and to move forward in His strength and with His purpose.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“I love you," he said. "Most abundantly."
"Aye." She smiled. "Your kisses are abundant to be sure."
He grinned in return. "I did once warn you that I am most reservedly saving my love for only one woman, the woman I plan to marry, and that I shall have an overflowing abundance of affection to bestow on her alone.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Just because you've arrived to Vancouver Island doesn't mean you have to stop your journey to a new life." Mrs. Moresby once again removed her hankerchief from her reticule and dabbed her forehead with it. "In fact, our whole lives are going to be filled with challenges, and our job is to keep growing and seeking after what God has next for us.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Not sure why some are stronger than others, miss. My sister always said if we're stronger in body, that just means we've got more responsibility from the good Lord to take care of any who are weaker.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“I may not be able to help everyone," Bates said slowly, "but I help those God places in my path each day. One life at a time, one small difference at a time. My methods are not revolutionary. But I'm doing the small part God's called me to, and when I obey Him, He gives me the strength I need to accomplish the task at hand.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Whatever the future brought, she was learning to trust that God was with her no matter where she was and no matter how difficult her situation.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“God had indeed taken her on a voyage. Through it all, He’d done a mighty work inside her, changing her, teaching her to truly love, and making her ready for even greater things to come. She couldn’t ask for anything more.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Don’t get stuck thinking you don’t matter or you’re not important enough. I know for people like us who come from lowly backgrounds, we all too often accept our place at the bottom and think that’s where we belong. But that’s just not true. God didn’t create some people to be better than others. He created everyone to have equal value.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Our whole lives are going to be filled with challenges, and our job is to keep growing and seeking after what God has next for us.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“He might be a gentleman, yet he wasn’t above sweating and laboring and mingling with others of a lower rank.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Maybe Mercy was as guilty of making assumptions about the wealthy as they were of forming their views of the poor. She’d do well to stop rushing to judge and instead see beyond the surface to the real person.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“The truth was, Mercy hadn’t witnessed many successful or happy marriages in her tiny corner of the world. As a result, marriage didn’t appeal to her any more than the thought of having children.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Was death so common a visitor in these parts that people expected it, maybe even welcomed it as the only true savior from their pain? Or had they, like her, closed off their hearts to the pain in order to continue on?”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“Joseph met the captain’s gaze and realized the conversation was more than simply crossing a bridge. It was an invitation to another journey, a journey he couldn’t wait to begin.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride

“The truth was, he liked being his own man, breaking free of the constraints of his class and doing whatever he pleased.”
― Jody Hedlund, A Reluctant Bride