Thursday, March 31, 2011

Choosing to SEE

I recently completed the book Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman, wife of Steven Curtis Chapman. It’s a great autobiography about her life but especially life since the tragic death of her five year old. I am not a reader, which explains why my goal for 2011 was to read TWO WHOLE BOOKS! This is my first...although I did finish Cold Tangerines this year, but since I started last year I will only count it as a half!

I think my favorite line in the whole book is in the dedication Mary Beth gives to her son Will: "You have been entrusted with an incredible pain! I’m so sorry. I wish as your mom I could take it away, but I know God has a plan for you to steward this story well and to minister to others through your suffering."

Another part of their story that hit very close to home was reading about their oldest daughter getting married five month after her sister died. Change the dates in this paragraph and it sums up my wedding day, as well: "
I know that Satan took a massive swing at our entire family on May 21 [June 12, 2010] and thought he was going to destroy us for good. So October 4 [January 1, 2011] was not just a good day, it was a victorious day! God overwhelmed us with a joy that eased our sorrow and allowed us to see that, out of this horrible story, there were redemptive pieces already being written by the Healer of all wounds."

Choosing to SEE--Even the title reminds me that life is all about the choices we make. The Creator of the Universe designed us with the ability to make a choice. Don't underestimate the significance of that. We have been wired with the ability to choose everything from our attitudes to His free gift of salvation! This book made me cry and laugh all at the same time--and that, my friends, is my favorite emotion.

3 comments:

  1. I LOVED that book so so much! (I already have a weird obsession with the Chapman family and this just furthered it.)
    I want an Asian baby now.

    I'm sure you have an idea of what you want to read for book #2, but can I make a suggestion? "Heaven is For Real" by Todd Burpo. The roomies and I read parts out loud on the drive to Dallas for Haley's wedding. It is incredible. Worthy of goosebumps.

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  2. ooo! great suggestion--I'm reading a marriage book but I've surprised myself so maybe I'll be doing more than two this year :)

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  3. ok Heaven is for Real will change your life!! It's a small book and you will read it so fast! I have been recommending that book to everybody ever since I read it!

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