An Offering: The Tale of Therese

by Allison Pittman

1504, Brunnendorf, Germany
Eight year-old Therese longs for a home. Fatherless and living in one, small room with her mother, Therese is sent to visit her grandparents in the next town when men come to visit. She’s hoping this man will be the one who marries her mother and gives them a home.

But on this day, while heading to her grandparents, she stops to pick up vegetables that have fallen off a passing wagon and is accused of being a beggar and attacked with stones. Rescued by a nun from the local convent, she brings Therese to the church, where she is cared for. In the loving arms of the nun, Therese wishes she could stay.

Leaving the convent for her grandparent’s house, Therese is welcomed in for the first time. Again, she longs to make this her home along with her mother, but realizes that grace and forgiveness don’t come easy. What must be sacrificed to see her dream come true?

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Novella, Short Stories, Christian, Historical

96 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2017

About the author

Allison Pittman is the author of For Time and Eternity, Stealing Home, the Crossroads of Grace series, and her nonfiction debut, Saturdays With Stella. A high-school English teacher, she serves as director of the theater arts group at her church. She is also the co-president of a dynamic Christian writers group in the San Antonio, Texas area, where she makes her home with her husband and their three boys.

Reviews

[Rachel McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like one long line of poetry, Therese's story is a stirring historical told in simplistically beautiful language. Evocative and stirring, this petite novella is the perfect amuse bouche while I eagerly await the release of Loving Luther.

Pittman is one of my all-time favourite scribes and her ability to jam-pack this small canvas with heart-wrenching characters and breathtaking descriptions is truly a feat. Longtime readers (like myself) know how comfortable Pittman is at transporting us to the greatest heights of Americana: baseball, the 1920s, even the dustbowl. Here, she proves that her prose is century- agnostic, crafting a riveting tale amidst the cloistered halls of convents and woods of 16th century Germany. Escape into a lovely rural portrait resplendent with imagery and full of heart.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short novella. I wondered if it was a true story. I think not but might be historical fiction. 16th century was a bad time in Europe and in the church. There was little mercy but there were a few who showed Christ's love and kindness. An illegitimate child is saved from more serious injuries by a nun who leads her to Christ, in a Medieval sort of way. It's a redemption story.

[Cathy Bickerstaff · Rating 3 out of 5]

How Therese path changed

This story seems to portray realistically a dark time in history. To feel the love of a daughter for her mother trapped in a lifestyle not entirely of her own choosing, but dictated by paths taken and lack of choices.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When eight-year-old Therese is attacked and injured by the villagers of Brunnendorf, she is rescued by a compassionate nun, Sister Heida. This chance encounter changes Therese's day, her life, and her eternal destiny...

(Only two errors found: hear / ear ; enormity / immensity.)

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant, read told through the eyes of a little girl born in an unfortunate situation but with a desire to know Christ. A touching novella that works as a stand alone or compelling prequel to Loving Luther.

[Janet Merrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the story of Therese. Very easy to read and kept my interest.

[Kristina Seleshanko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this novella...except that it didn't seem complete. It just suddenly ended. Almost like it was a novel the author abandoned.