Did You Ever Wish On Dandelions?

I'm thinking a lot about wishing this morning. We've all heard the saying, "If wishing could make it so..." And then there's "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight." Of course, who can forget about making a wish before blowing out the candles on your birthday cake?


Kids do a lot of wishing, but then so do adults, although we may have a somewhat more reasonable view of it. We can wish, but we know it doesn't always come to pass. But, what if you wished on a fuzzy dandelion that Jesus would make Himself known to you before blowing it to smithereens ?

That's what Maranatha Winningham does in Mary DeMuth's novel, "Wishing on Dandelions." I recently spent several days on Maranatha's journey to the arms of Jesus after making her wish. It is a fantastic read and I encourage you to pick a copy up at your local bookstore or toddle on over to Amazon and order one! "Dandelions" is the second in a two-book series that chronicles the life of a young girl from childhood to young womanhood. In the first book, "Watching the Tree Limbs," we meet ten-year-old Mara (which means bitter), a child searching for belonging, living with an aunt who views her as more of an inconvenience than a blessing. Mara has her already troubled life twisted even more when she is sexually abused by an older boy. "Dandelions" picks up the story when Mara, now known by her full name of Maranatha (which means "come Lord Jesus) is seventeen years old. She is still haunted by memories of what happened to her, but is now living with her Uncle Zane. Her life has changed for the better in many ways, but yet she struggles to believe that God really cares for her.


Mary DeMuth has a way with words that makes me say I want to write like Mary when I grow up (and I'm years older than Mary!). She treats the abuse scenes with care, never graphically describing them, yet you know exactly what is happening. Her beautiful word pictures takes the reader deep into Marantha's heart and causes you to think. I found myself being ministered to in many positive ways through reading this story. Although "Dandelions" can be read as a stand alone book, I highly recommend you read "Tree Limbs" first. Both stories are full of quirky secondary characters that keep you chuckling as well as thinking when so many spiritual truths and words of wisdom come from their mouths. Who can forget Camilla with her penchant to rhyme, or Zady, Uncle Zane's housekeeper with her wise counsel? I could go on and on, but it would only spoil your enjoyment. You really need to meet these people for yourself!


I'm certain kids still wish on stars and before blowing out the candles. Quite possibly they still wish on dandelions. But, I'm certain of one thing. When we ask Jesus to make Himself known, to Him that wish becomes a prayer. A prayer He always responds to. We just need to keep our hearts open to realize His presence. Maranatha did, and she wasn't disappointed. Go get this book!