Weak and Loved: A Mother-Daughter Love Story by Emily Cook
Now available on Amazon.com $9.99
kindle $4.99
epub $4.99
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
Now available on Amazon.com $9.99
kindle $4.99
epub $4.99
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
 |
| Aggie and Curious George getting an EEG |
Aggie's early seizures were short and mild. At first, we thought she might be just daydreaming. As the months passed and medicine after medicine failed, her seizures kept getting more dramatic and more dangerous.
Seizures are like time-thieves.
They robbed her Christmas moments.
They tipped her off a diving board
They pushed her off a bunk bed.
They sapped her energy.
They stole her breath.
They shattered my heart.
As I struggled through those awful days of testing and waiting and fear, my Aunt encouraged me with the following words:
“People say be strong. I say be weak and be loved.”
Loved.
I was loved. God loved and carried me (and the whole family) through this trial. He showed me, and continues to show me, that He is a God who cares for the poor and needy.
Even when I am weak, He loves.
"Weak and Loved" has become my heart song.
My story.
Her story.
Our story.
Now available:
(Also available on Amazon.)
"Emily, unlike any other Christian mom-author I've ever read, finds comfort in precise places: her daughter's baptism, her own baptism, the real promises of God rather than fake general ones people made up, salvation in Christ even if there is no happy ending in this life. There is no blather about God's perfect plan or the blessings of watching one's child suffer a life-threatening illness (?!). There is only the cross that breaks us, sick baby or not, and the cross that saves us, for we are all sick babies" Rebekah at CSPP (Read the full book review)
This story includes no clichés or easy answers, and it is not an attempt to answer complicated questions of human suffering. Rather, it is a demonstration of God's faithfulness toward one sick child and her imperfect mother: both weak, but both loved. Aggie had a brain tumor that disrupted her young life; her mother’s sin and selfishness disrupted her best attempts to care for her. Written from the perspective of a mother who suffers with her child, Weak and Loved allows readers to experience the struggles of faith and encouragement of God. Readers will enter the difficult, earthy, and sometimes humorous world of a sick child, and be pleased to find the beauty of God's love in Christ even there.
“From my experience, stories of Christians enduring trials often present the events as a semi-documentary, with only glimpses of what goes on inside the person. The circumstances themselves take on a life of their own and become central. Not so in Weak and Loved; Emily bares her soul before God, sharing fear, doubt, even sin. And now she shares it with her readers. The inner conflict, so painfully exposed on each page, yields to this confession: ‘Death and sickness harassed Aggie while sin, doubt, and despair harassed me.’
This story includes no clichés or easy answers, and it is not an attempt to answer complicated questions of human suffering. Rather, it is a demonstration of God's faithfulness toward one sick child and her imperfect mother: both weak, but both loved. Aggie had a brain tumor that disrupted her young life; her mother’s sin and selfishness disrupted her best attempts to care for her. Written from the perspective of a mother who suffers with her child, Weak and Loved allows readers to experience the struggles of faith and encouragement of God. Readers will enter the difficult, earthy, and sometimes humorous world of a sick child, and be pleased to find the beauty of God's love in Christ even there.
“From my experience, stories of Christians enduring trials often present the events as a semi-documentary, with only glimpses of what goes on inside the person. The circumstances themselves take on a life of their own and become central. Not so in Weak and Loved; Emily bares her soul before God, sharing fear, doubt, even sin. And now she shares it with her readers. The inner conflict, so painfully exposed on each page, yields to this confession: ‘Death and sickness harassed Aggie while sin, doubt, and despair harassed me.’
"Weak and Loved is a remarkable story of clarity about the inner turmoil of a parent who questions what is happening, herself, and even God. By God’s faithful persistence in working with her in the turmoil, not removing her from it, Emily learns about God’s love for her daughter, her husband, her other children, and ultimately God’s love for her."
Rev. Richard Shields
Read more reviews
Amazon reviews
O'Connor Home
Girl of Grace
Mrs. Mommy Booknerd
Obsessive Bookworm
Upward not Inward
Natasha Metzler "It touched very deep parts of me and left new songs on my lips."
Loving our Journey
For more information on epilepsy please visit:
If you or a loved-one currently suffers from seizures, check out Epilepsy Foundation's online community
Peer support is so important!
To be 4 and go through this...and age where they know something is up...she's in my prayers sweet little girl. :)
ReplyDeleteMichy, it was hard that she knew something was up. Although, the epilepsy/tumor actually confused her and changed her so much that she knew much less than a typical 4year old.
DeleteShe seemed incapable of worry.
I think it was a combination of the sickness and grace.
(what an odd thing.)
I would love to review your book for you. I used to review for Tommy Nelson. I say used to because since blogging...I...uh... well too a little long to do the last one. lol I'm told as soon as I finish the review and submit it, I will in good standing again. lol So if you trust me to get it done, I would love to read what you say. I love to read. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat! Please email me at emilymariecook@weakandloved.com
DeleteEmily, I came across your story and blog via reading your comment/response to Mary Jaksch's blog entry today. I loved what she wrote, and was even more moved by the story of Aggie and what you and your family have faced. I couldn't believe the timing! I had literally just finished writing a piece about how we can be railroaded (even by people or teachings with good intentions) into thinking we have to be all grown up when in fact we are all kids who need Jesus, sometimes desperately. It's too long to include here, but with your permission, I could email it to you. I thought you might enjoy reading it, but more important is that I want you to know how grateful I am that you have shared your story are encouraging us all in the way that you do. I will keep beautiful, shiny Aggie in my prayers, and you too, of course, and the whole family. Many blessings in His Love.
ReplyDelete