Are you or your child at a place in your life where you are trying to figure out what you were created for? Maybe you have asked yourself more than once what your talents and gifts may be? Maybe you feel the need to transition to something fresh and new? Created & Called: A Journey to and Through Nursing, is a wonderful book. Whether you imagined yourself as a nurse or not (like me), as you read through this fairly short book (165 pages) you will find yourself encouraged and challenged.

Created & Called, written by Chelsia Harris DNP, APRN, FNO-BC, does a wonderful job of capturing all sides of this profession and showing it for what it truly is; a calling. Harris shares openly that she wasn’t immediately drawn to nursing. She only started to consider it after watching someone that she loved struggle with losing their independence, and then have to rely on others to care for her. After seeing her aunt receive poor care through all of her health issues, she felt the calling to nursing become stronger within herself.

I like how she shares that throughout her life, her calling has changed several times. I could really relate to that! I too have found myself growing and developing in my calling, and that always takes you to new places. Although I am not looking into the nursing field, I am glad that I got a chance to review this book. My middle daughter is just finishing up her junior year of high school, and has been struggling with the question from the first sentence; “What was I created for?” I had her read the book as well, and she loved it!

Created & Called can be purchased for $12.99 and is a very easy read. You will find yourself flying through the chapters eager to read what she writes next. I found the common underlying theme to be one of self-discovery. Throughout the book you will see that she emphasizes the need to find what you were created for, and then challenges us to do it. Without letting anything hold you back!

I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and encouraging. She has written prayers for the closing of each chapter, and they truly show the heart with which she wrote the book. Here is an example of one of her prayers: “Heavenly Father, Wow! Thank You so much for a career that is exciting, invigorating, ever-changing, never boring, and always rewarding. My heart overflows with joy in knowing that You have called me to such an amazing career filled with opportunity. I pray that the person reading this book will be inspired by this chapter. I pray that You open their hearts and minds to the possibilities that await them. Let them dream, and dream big! Remind them that You allow them to have desires, but that, ultimately, You plan their steps. Comfort them with the understanding that Your plan is far better than any dream or ideal they can imagine. Thank You, Father, for loving us so much and allowing us to love others through the great profession of nursing. In Jesus’ Holy and most precious name, Amen.” Created & Called pg. 98.

So, let me pass this on to you – I too pray that you will open your heart to all that God has for you and realize that you were made with a plan and purpose in mind!

—Product review by Barbette Yingst, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, May, 2016