Chesed

Saturday December 3, 2011

By Michelle December 3, 2011 Uncategorized 77 Comments

LIFE IS A GIFT

I feel wordless. This book is unbelievable, yet it’s a true story. It is heart-wrenching grief and the ability to live with great joy.

I would rather not tell you the story, because I hate when someone robs me of the element of surprise in a book. Caught between that and the deep emotions I felt while reading, I’m left with few words to give you. So I will say this.

Jenny Miller is my new hero.

She has walked places in her life that most of us would quake to think about. She shares the story of her life and her journey with God through it all in a rich, honest, powerful, vulnerable way. Yet, in spite of the fact that her pain tops most of the ones we live with, I never felt any vibes of “well, I should just be grateful that I only struggle with xyz because she has it way worse.” We all have those moments of total surrender to God. Of giving up something we desperately long for. Because in those moments of surrender, we truly find God. So even though her story is one no one would ever wish for, her story also makes her so easy to relate to. At the end of the book I had this enormous urge to call her and ask her if we could go out for coffee again. Totally bizarre since I’ve never talked to her in person and she lives thousands of miles from my house.

It’s a story of tears. Of learning. Of profound gratitude. And most of all I am overwhelmed by her tremendous desire to see good in life. To make it beautiful. To live well.

Jenny, thank you. Thank you for writing your story to share with the world. We are richer because of it.

Here is the introduction:

“The only sound is my blades cutting across the ice as we leisurely skate toward the far end of the arena and round the corner. We spin and twirl as if trying out for the Olympics. Only a little more slowly. And a lot less gracefully.

“I whirl my beautiful daughter’s wheelchair around so she faces me. ‘Happy Birthday to you,’ I sing softly, breaking the silence. Her eyes widen. ‘Happy Birthday to you.’ Her eyes begin to twinkle. ‘Happy birthday, dear Courtney ….’ I hold out the note and her face breaks into a grin. She’s beaming. ‘Happy Birthday to you.’

“We take off again, the wind whipping through our hair as we enjoy the ice and the rhythm and each other. We have the rink all to ourselves, and we take full advantage, singing and laughing and sharing secrets.

“Just for today, we pretend there is no such thing as disease or disability. We choose to believe that life is a gift and embrace wholeheartedly the beauty of this day. We relax and reflect and remember …..

“Remember the lessons of faith and life we have learned. Remember the amazing grace of our Father as we walked the journey set before us. And remember the God moments we’ve encountered along the way … some full of joy, others full of heartache, but always undeniably from the hand of God.

“All because God sent three darling little girls into my life and changed me into the person I am today. I wish you could meet them. Not just meet them, but truly become part of their lives and allow them to be part of yours. I believe it would change you, too.”

To enter: leave a comment on this xanga post. You can earn a second entry by linking to facebook or your blog. Come back and leave a second comment telling me you did so. If you do not comment with a xanga or facebook identity, please check back when the giveaway ends or leave your email address so that I can get the books to you. Giveaway ends Thursday, December 8th.

And just for fun, a gift basket idea:

I did this basket as though I were going to give it to my friend, Jeanne, mom to Benjamin in my children’s book, My Brother’s Keeper.  Although the truth is, she is the one who called me two days ago to make sure I had this book because she wanted to order it for me if I didn’t.  But IF I were giving it to Jeanne, I would want to include a pretty scarf and a starbucks gift card and a note that includes the words, let’s go do something fun tomorrow.  Because somehow it feels just like something Jenny would do, knowing how much a mom like her just needs to get away sometimes to regain perspective.

To order your own copy: visit this page.

Good luck!

************* This giveaway is now closed ******************

77 thoughts on “Saturday December 3, 2011”

  2. ma_an_pa

    I want this one! I haven’t had the chance to read one yet, but I have seen them around. Looks like a tear-jerker and I’ve heard its very good. So yes, I would love to win this one.

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  7. liz324

    I saw this book and thought it looked really interesting. I would like to read it but maybe I’ll wait till after I have my baby to prevent more fears yet. Or maybe I’m the only one that worries about their unborn baby and if they will be ok…

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  10. ewaldro

    I need this book, right now in the middle of this embracing my nine-month-old’s first words that my three year old struggles to say. I’m not sure how to cope with this delight and huge lump in my throat at the same time, and I think I may buy this book even I don’t win it, because it would give me some perspective.

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  14. letshavechai

    Jenny is my hero too. She was my closest friend at CBS years ago. Then we lost touch over the years when she moved west. A few years ago, I randomly ran into her and she told me bits & pieces of her story. I cried buckets and thanked God for my perfectly healthy baby girls. I would love to read the book!

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  18. natover

    I’ve read this book but don’t have my own copy. Would love to have one. I walked the same path for 4 months and it is a hard one. Loved to hear how God has brought her through it all.

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  31. srheam

    posted on FB.

    (oh, and for the record…I’d love to be on your list of “friends” you’d give these awesome gift baskets too…LOL)  Your ideas are wonderful!  My creative juices have obviously dried up (I even question now if they even were ever there).  Love the ideas.

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  33. wildflowerdays

    Hi Michelle! You didn’t know I have been following your blog for months? And…we got a drop-in bottle of our own, and they work much better. 🙂 K…I’m signing up to win this book.
    Rachel

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  35. happyangel78

    I have this book & LOVED it & have recommended it to LOTS of people.  I could relate to her so well in many ways since I too have a child with special needs.  Needless to say, I cried the whole way through the book.  She writes so well & I too felt like I know her now & she’s a good friend even though I’ve never met or talked with her.  If I win a copy of this book I would give it to one of my fellow “special needs” Moms. 🙂

    Have I ever told you that Jeanne is a good friend of mine?  And My Brother’s Keeper is Brianna’s favorite book.  She’s already worn 1 copy out so Keith gave her another this summer when we were at Penn Valley Retreat.  I also bought one & donated it to Brianna’s classroom.  Her teacher LOVED it!

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  38. smilesbymiles

    @wildflowerdays – Rachel!!! I’m so glad you commented! Someone told me about your blog a long time ago and I could never remember the name. And YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! about the drop in bottle working better! Sending hugs your way!

    @happyangel78 –  You didn’t tell me that, but how super cool! Keith and Jeanne are absolutely fabulous people and I still feel so fortunate to have met them!

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  48. juststoppinby

    I have her book on my Christmas wish list! I met Jenny years ago and had the privilege of holding one of her precious daughters. If I don’t win this book or receive it as a gift, I’ll most likely be buying it.

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  49. quiet_hearts

    I loved the excerpt and would love to win this book.  By the way.  I hardly have time to enter all these giveaways.  How do you have time to write all these posts?  What a fun way to open up December.

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  53. Anonymous

    I keep seeing this book, drawn to it. But I just told my husband I’m going to stop buying books this year; I’ve bought so many! Then he informed me the year is almost up, so soon I can buy some more! Oh, good!

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  59. ihavesix

    Jenny’s husband was in my youth group for a number of years and we’ve seen them and their daughters now and then thru out the years… to read their story would be wonderful! If I don’t win… I’m gonna have to go buy it! 🙂

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  75. Anonymous

    I don’t know if I’m too late to enter or not. In all the hub-bub of my week, I forgot all about this until this morning. I would love to be entered in the drawing, but if I’m too late that’s okay. I’ve seen this book and would love to read it. I find that stories like this are a good reminder to me to be thankful for everything God sends my way, including the personalities of each of my boys.

    Thank-you for doing all these giveaways, Michelle!

    Reply ↓

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