| Book
Review – Finding Grace |
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Author —
Donna VanLiere
Publisher - St. Martin's Press
Publicity - FSB
Media
Review by Tom Gilbert — © May, 2009
 Donna
VanLiere is a bestselling author known primarily for her
holiday hope series (including The Christmas Shoes,
The Christmas Blessing). Her books have inspired
many. Now she gives us her own story. In Finding Grace
she details her life full of pain and joy, searching for
God and trying to find meaning and purpose.
She and her husband, Troy, tried for many years to have
children. When she finally became pregnant it ended in
a miscarriage. They tried again without success. All of
the various ways and means, including expensive and painful
medical procedures, bore no fruit. Donna was depressed.
Troy suggested adoption, but she had trouble with the
concept of children she didn't actually give birth to.
Donna was also hiding a deep and dark secret from her
past. Like many who've been sexually abused she thought
somehow it was her fault, although nothing could be further
from the truth. She carried this secret for a long time,
but God has a way of healing in strange, mysterious and
wonderful ways.
This memoir is a powerful telling of her story. She writes
freely and comfortably, at times with deep insight and
often with laugh-out-loud humor. As I read the book it
felt like she trusted me with her story. In this way she
ministers to others, especially those who've traveled
a similar path.
It took a while for her to accept her past, the abuse,
and also to find her calling as a writer. Even greater
was her eventual acceptance to go the route of adoption.
Clearly this has been an immeasurable blessing to both
Donna and her husband. Grace was their first child, adopted
from China. They eventually adopted twice more and in
her heart and soul she knows these are her children.
Grace comes to us free and without strings attached. One
of the most powerful revelations in the book was a lesson
she learned from her daughters. Gracie had said something
mean to her sister, Kate. It was pointed out to her that
she should apologize, always a hard thing for young siblings.
But she tearfully came to her sister after a brief "time
out". She sobbed an indistinguishable apology, but
her sister didn't even need to hear it. She already told
her, "I forgive you, Grace." And Donna realized
that God is like that, forgiving us before we even repent.
"Grace always precedes forgiveness" (page 192).
I think you will find inspiration and hope in Finding
Grace. Maybe you will even find a bit of you in
her story. There are some additional surprises by the
end of the book that I won't spoil. Read it to discover
that we are all on our journey and it is often unfolding
in ways we would never envision.
More info and resources for Finding Grace at www.donnavanliere.com
Order book at Amazon.com
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| Tom Gilbert writes articles
and reviews about the Christian life and maintains the
e-ministry, Living the Solution (www.livingthesolution.com) |
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Scripture taken from the
Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered
trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either
trademark for the offering of goods or services requires
the prior written consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy
Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used
by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton,
IL 60189, USA. All rights reserved.
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