Why you should add ‘God’s Little Flowers’ to your bookshelf

I can still remember some of the most formative books from my early years. Among them was an illustrated Rosary book that my siblings and I would look through as we prayed along with our parents. While that book has been lost to time, it still sticks out in my memory when I think about the books that shaped me. 

Now that I’m a mother myself, I’m eager to fill my shelves not only with fun stories but faith-filled books. I want the Faith to be a natural and integrated part of our family life. 

Luckily, we are living in an age of great Catholic creativity, with most Catholic publishers dedicating themselves to publishing a line of children’s books that bring the Faith, the Church, and the saints to young readers. 

Lindsay Schlegel is counted among these Catholic creatives. She is the (co-)author of two books for adults, and her latest book, “God's Little Flowers,” is her first for children. 

Lindsay shared the inspiration behind her new book, which combines lessons of faith with a beautiful message that both girls and women need to hear. 

This interview has been lightly edited.

Lindsay Schlegel, author of "God's Little Flowers"

‘God’s Little Flowers’

Ava: Can you talk briefly about your new book: what it’s about and why you wrote it?

Lindsay: “God’s Little Flowers” wasn’t my idea! Katerina Deem of Little Way Design Co. received this story in a dream. She sent me an Instagram message saying she had an idea for a story but wasn’t a writer. In my work with children’s books, did I know someone who might be able to help her? Could I?

I have spent much of my twenty years in various roles in publishing working with children’s books. I’d tried my hand at a couple of picture book manuscripts in the past. None of them quite worked. Each one was missing something I couldn’t put my finger on. Still, I thought it would be worth it to give this one a try. I’m glad I did!

Katerina and I had a great conversation via phone, where she shared her concerns about how girls — even very young girls — today were pressured to compare themselves to others and to put themselves down rather than raise others up. She told me the idea for the story, and when we ended the call, I sat down at my dining room table. What I typed that day is almost exactly the text that is in the book today. This is incredibly rare; to me, it’s clear evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit. 

The book is about Gemma, a young girl who feels less-than. She’s comparing her seeming lack of accomplishments to those of her friends, whom she kind of conflates into one unstoppable human (we’ve all been there, haven’t we?). Her mom has, dare I say, a brilliant idea to bring Gemma and her sisters on an adventure to show, rather than tell, them how great God’s love is and how necessary the differences among us are. 

Stop the comparison

Ava: What are some of the biggest challenges women face in our current culture?

Lindsay: I think the biggest challenge is that habit of conflating things. We see someone who paints beautifully, someone else who has a tidy home, another who is in good shape, still another who is successful in her work, and someone who has a bunch of peaceful kids, and we are fooled into believing other people are all doing all the things all the time. 

The reality is that each of us has her strengths and each of us has her weaknesses. This is a good thing! In cultivating our strengths, we glorify the Lord. Likewise, in recognizing our limitations and leaning on Christ, we also glorify the Lord. Wishing we were someone else does not glorify the Lord.

Building up one another

Ava: As women of faith, how can we strive to be ladies who build up others, recognizing their gifts in light of their heavenly daughterhood?

Lindsay: One way is to give thanks to God when we see the fruit of another’s gift. Consider the saints: They wouldn’t say their patience, charity, endurance, or joy was their own doing. They would all point back to God, from whom these gifts come and for whose glory they exist. If we could recalibrate our minds and hearts that way, we would run less risk of putting any one person on too high a pedestal. If we could learn to speak this way as well, we could positively influence the way others around us — children and adults — see things as well. 

Raising kids for heaven

Ava: How do we instill in kids — both girls and boys alike — how important it is to strive for heavenly things above earthly goals? How do we raise children to live in the light of eternity? 

Lindsay: The Mass is the best way to make this happen. When we participate in the Mass by arriving early, settling our hearts, listening well to the readings, thoughtfully giving responses, joyfully receiving the Eucharist, and making time to end with a prayer of sincere thanksgiving, we are lifted out of this world and into the next. We are given a more ordered perspective — but only if we really understand and engage with what’s happening beyond what we can see. 

Faith-filled books are great, too, of course! While some might be set apart for prayer time, most of these ought to be worked into the family bookshelf, so that reading about the saints, the Faith, and the Church will be just as natural as reading a novel or a non-fiction book about space.

Lindsay Schlegel is a daughter of God, wife, mother, writer, editor, and student. She is the (co-)author of two books for adults; God's Little Flowers is her first for children. She contributes regularly to Verily, CatholicMom.com, WINE, and Our Sunday Visitor Magazine (she writes the "Saintly Habits" column). Her work has also been published in America, Word on Fire, Aleteia, Solum Press, and The Windhover. She serves as editor in various capacities at Verily, Into the Deep, and The Colosseum. She is currently completing a Master of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in fiction at the University of St. Thomas, Houston.

Ava Frecker is the founder and editor of Caeli. She is a midwestern girl with a heart for supporting people’s stories. She’s also a Jane Austen enthusiast, chai tea addict, grammar activist, amateur sourdough baker, and gal pal to St. Thérèse — on whose feast day she married her beloved, Dominic. They now have their sweet boy, Linus. Follow her on Instagram @avalalor.