Review: Amazing Grace for Survivors

Amazing Grace for Survivors

I absolutely loved this book. It is a series of personal stories from people in all situations and from all walks of life who have faced great pain and hardship. Their struggles have one thing in common. Each experienced Christ's grace on their journey and flourished despite the hardships.

There are so many different stories it is hard to give a good overview ... but I'll list a few of those that I found unforgettable:

• The man who scoffed at Rome's homeless only to find himself in that very state within 24 hours.
• The family who visited their niece at work only to find themselves determined to adopt an orphan who seems to old to be "adoptable."
• Immaculee Ilibagiza's story of facing the man who killed her family and forgiving him.
• The woman who was raped and decided to have the baby that resulted from that act of violence

As I said these are just a few. I could list every story, frankly. Each had something unique to offer. Also, not every story was of a dramatic problem. Sometimes they were of everyday, smaller issues that are struggles at the time but that each of us have suffered through. Such is Mark Shea's story of being an outsider in high school, that age when it is so vitally important to fit in. I liked that the editors included all sorts of problems like that. Everyone hasn't suffered through the sorts of terrible times that are chronicled in many of the stories here. However, we all can relate to those more mundane, if you will, of the struggles contained therein.

Highly recommended. (And bring a hankie. You'll need it.)

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