Stepping Heavenward,
Elizabeth Prentiss, 1869
The title of this book caught my attention. It’s written in journal form, beginning with
Katherine’s (Katie’s) 16th birthday and follows her maturing into
womanhood. This is one of Elisabeth Elliot's favorite books, and she writes, “This book is a
treasure of godly and womanly wisdom, told with disarming candor and humility,
yet revealing a deep heart’s desire to know God.”
A journal excerpt:
July 30 – I met Dr. Cabot [pastor] today, and could not help
asking the question: “is it right for me to sing and play in company when all I
do it for is to be admired?”
“Are you sure it is all
you do it for?” he returned.
“Oh,” I said, “I suppose there may be a sprinkling of desire
to entertain and please, mixed with the love of display.”
“Do you suppose that your love of display, assuming you have
it, would be forever slain by your merely refusing to sing in company?”
“I thought that might give it a pretty hard blow,” I said,
“if not its death blow.”
“Meanwhile, in punishing yourself you punish your poor
innocent friends,” he said laughing. “No, child, go on singing; God has given
you this power of entertaining and gratifying your friends. But pray, without
ceasing, that you may sing from pure benevolence and not from pure self-love.”
“Why, do people pray about such things as that?” I cried.
“Of course they do. Why, I would pray about my little
finger, if my little finger went astray.”
I looked at his little finger, but saw no signs of its
becoming schismatic.
