A Lady’s Maid

The process of self discovery is something all of us experience during our lifetime. For many of us, it is an ongoing journey full of surprises that reveal essential nuggets of truth about who we are. An integral component of the process is learning to use our voice to champion the things closest to our hearts.

My most recent read was the well written A Lady’s Maid by Jen Geigle Johnson. A sequel to A Nobleman’s Daughter, the fast paced book has plot and conflict galore to keep the reader glued to its pages. I would recommend reading the two books in order, but A Lady’s Maid stands on it’s own.

I like books that leave me thinking about issues, and A Lady’s Maid fits this criteria for me. Johnson explores the power of using your voice through the main character, Molly O’Malley. We are able to see a portion the women’s suffrage movement in the 1830s through Molly’s active participation and enthusiasm for being heard. Because Molly found her voice, she was able to propel the movement forward despite being a maid in an era that servants were invisible.

After finishing the book, I couldn’t help pondering what exactly my voice supports. Do I champion the issues closest to my heart? Most importantly, do my children hear my voice in the way that will help them become the best they can be? These are questions worth the time and effort to answer. By answering them I will discover pieces of myself. If I don’t like the answers, am I willing to work on becoming the person I want to be in that area?

Today’s world is a cacophony of tumultuous upheaval and strident voices seeking to influence us to their positions. Finding our own voice and heeding it is the only way to experience peace. Find your voice, and never let it be silenced.