Carol grew up in a home where her parents fought and her mother spent time in a mental institution. Her parents separated when Carol was twelve. When Carol was a sophomore in high school her mother was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. The couple across the street took in Carol and her sister. Her mother died in 1969.
Carol was a junior in college and was recuperating from a tonsillectomy when she opened her apartment door to a man. He was a recently released convict and he raped her. The Holy Spirit helped her handle the violent man so that he left her without doing additional physical harm. She was traumatized and suffered from the memories for years. It would be decades before she really understood who she was in Christ and felt grounded in His unconditional love.
Carol eventually returned to group social activities and met Jeff. They began to date and fell in love. Jeff was not a believer but would accept Christ later. Carol graduated and went to work in a bank. Jeff returned to college to work on a degree he had begun years earlier. They married after Jeff's graduation and had a storybook honeymoon.
Carol fell into depression after a time, never having been counseled after her rape. While she had talked to Jeff about it, she now went through months of counseling.
She experienced God watching over her as she became pregnant. She and Jeff would eventually have two sons. She decided to become a stay-at-home mom and gave up her senior management position at the bank.
A change in Jeff's work brought the family to California. They became involved in a church and grew spiritually. Another change in Jeff's work brought them back to Cincinnati.
Carol nursed her dying father and experienced healing in their relationship. She also came to realize that the hurt from the rape had finally become a scar.
She ends her brief book with a review of her spiritual growth and healing and how the reader can accept Christ as Savior.
This slim biography would be a great encouragement for someone suffering from guilt or shame over an experience like rape. It verifies that God can bring you to a life of freedom if you are willing to allow Jesus to work in and through your life.
The narrative suffers from lack of professional editing but is still a rewarding book to read.
OutskirtsPress, 90 pages.
For more information, visit http://outskirtspress.com/amazinggraceaschristwalksby
I received a copy of this book from the author for the purpose of this review.
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