Love, Hope, and Forgiveness: Overarching Themes in Series by Cindy Tingley

In Lily the Donkey’s Adventures, my children’s bible story series with three books so far (Lily’s Secret, Lily’s Desert Adventure, and Lily’s Egypt Adventure), the theme centres around love, hope and, forgiveness.

Throughout her journey, Lily gathers an entourage of other animals, who through their heart-talk and heart-vision, help Lily and The Holy Family spread the message of the power of love, but not without a few stumbles and mishaps along with way.

Learning to trust in ourselves

In the first book, little Lily goes through many trials and tribulations, mostly due to her self-doubt, when she is chosen to carry Mary, who is with child, to Bethlehem. The longer Lily is with the Holy Family, the more confidence she gains in herself, even after a disastrous fall when she twists her ankle and feels as if she’s letting Mary and Joseph down. Nonetheless, her ankle heals and they continue along on their journey.

A new way to love

In the second book, Lily is relieved that the saviour has come and thinks everyone can now go home. However, she is awakened in the middle of a very dark night and must quickly leave with the Holy Family, to escape evil King Herod who has put out a decree to execute all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two (known as the Massacre of the Innocents).

As they cross the desert, Lily discovers the perils of walking in soft sand, and faces other elements that are foreign to her. Even with the challenges she faces, she also revels in the peacefulness of the desert, and learns how to quiet her mind and be open to learning more about the love of God – in a new way.

In the third book, the Holy Family finally makes it to their destination, Egypt, and Lily meets more animal friends, who have been waiting for the arrival of this special family.

All three of my books explore a new way to love…a divine way; and hopefully spreads a message to young readers that there is hope and forgiveness for all.

A higher power

The inner conflict and ongoing self-doubt that Lily feels springs from her desperation to be perfect and not make any mistakes on her journey. But she stumbles and falls occasionally, like most of us do, but she gets angry and speaks out, in often inappropriate ways, very unbecoming of a young lady donkey, not to mention a chosen-one!

But she learns, as we call do, that the only thing that is perfect, is God’s love for us. She realizes that she makes mistakes, but it’s all part of being on this earth and part of the learning process, and that she will always be perfect in God’s eyes. She is also assured by Jesus and the angels through heart-talk, that she was chosen because she is pure of heart.

The spirit that moves

Themes of love and kindness resonate with me as I go through the writing process and contemplate the things that inspire me like the beauty of the woods, the ocean, and listening to music and sometimes dancing. My six sisters introduced me to a variety of music that I still hear in my head and hum daily.

Other sources of inspiration are people being kind to each other especially strangers; loyalty; and, most of all, the knowledge that God loves us, flaws and all, even what we don’t like about ourselves or deem worthy.

Inspirational people

I was greatly influenced by Walt Disney and his movies, which I watched all through the late 50s and 60s, especially those with animals. I was very young when Old Yeller came out. Apparently, I cried at the end. I have no memory of this, only my parents’ word from way back.

I’m also inspired by intelligence, combined with compassion and kind people who remain hopeful that life can still be exciting and beautiful even when bad things happen, and draw on the great strength of spirit in the midst of adversity.

Character creation

Sometimes as I watch a show or listen to a song, special characters that I think will help get my messages across start to take shape – the characters of Lily and Professor Rakim Rabbit (in the latest book), came from watching a soap opera many, many years ago. Who knew? I certainly didn’t know at the time that they’d end up being in a book.

They come to me in dreams, day and night, and sometimes prayer brings forth images and a message to immediately get it down on paper. Meditation also sometimes produces the same results.

Many other concepts and characters just appear as I begin to write. I am simply the vehicle here to bring the message to readers.

Bringing characters to life

Even though characters can come to life through words on a page that spark imagination, I would like to thank my illustrator, Lara Chauvin, for the line drawings at the beginning of each chapter, and the beautiful cover art that truly brought Lily and her entourage to life. She is new to the Lily series but she was able to capture her perfectly and show how Lily has grown and lost her baby fat. She is now older and wiser, and more seasoned, as is shown throughout Lily’s Egypt Adventure. Her look of innocence has been replaced by much wisdom and joy. However, she will never lose her sense of mischief.

My favourite illustration is one of four-year-old Jesus getting ready to go back home to Israel, saying good bye to his animal family. They know he must go and they are very sad. Professor Rakim Rabbit has tears in her eyes.

Lily is fighting back her tears too as she will also be leaving her animal friends but will continue on her adventures with the Holy Family.

About the author

Author Cindy Tingley was born in a little village in New Brunswick called Point de Bute near the Nova Scotia border where she lived for 16 years. She moved around New Brunswick during her high school years finally settling in Fredericton.

After high school, Tingley met and settled down with her partner and for many years they ran a farm, produced lumber, and raised their own beef while working on rural community development projects. She remembers being interested and excited about writing as early as eight years old, but life was busy and writing only became a priority in more recent years.

She began writing the Lily series of children’s bible stories almost 15 years ago and feels now is the time to re-ignite the message of bringing peace to a fractured world. Lily’s Secret, launched in 2017, is the first in the series; Lily’s Desert Adventure, the second, launched in 2019; and the third, Lily’s Egypt Adventure, launches in 2022.

Tingley has lived in Halifax since November 2013. Along with writing every day, she likes to drum, sing (she was with the You Gotta Sing Chorus in Halifax for 4 years), walk and hang out with good people who raise her up.

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