Monday, December 14, 2009

Book Give Away


"Not to transmit an experience is to betray it." Eli Wiesel

It took me one year to write what I lived. One year to put it down on paper. One year to remember how far down He had reached to pull me out. One year of fighting within myself to finally come to the place of letting Him use what I lived - to give hope - to someone else.   

It is a story I had never told; I kept it all inside. I started to wonder if it was some crazy dream, or if it had even happened at all. Sometimes I thought maybe I had made it up. Other times I thought it wasn’t that bad – it was no big deal. But last year people I hadn’t seen in a while started surfacing: family, friends... people who knew. “You’re a miracle,” they said. “How did you survive?” 
 “Survive?” “Miracle?”  What did they mean? They started to tell me stories from their memories of how bad things were: how thin I had become, how out of control... My older sister whom I hadn’t seen for a long time returned from living overseas. She needed to talk. She forced me to listen... forced me to remember. 

When the memories hit, they hit hard. I wrote to get the images out of my head. I couldn’t eat or sleep. I wanted to get in my car, close my eyes and drive. It felt like it was happening all over again – the beatings, the confinement, the rape; throwing up time after time after time, even when I had tasted only a small bite of something; shoving needles in my arm  three and four times a day; ripping my arms with jagged rocks to feel something because I was so numb inside.
Why God? Why are you letting me go through this again? 

I didn’t want to remember! Yet in remembering, it dawned on me – finally – just how far down God had reached to free me.
Every day, in heat, rain or cold, I ran - alone in the woods - in the hills near our home. There I felt the gentle touch of God. I heard Him whisper, “You’re stronger now. It’s time to tell the truth of what happened. Tell your story to give hope to others.”

How could I never have told anyone what He had done for me? Nothing else had worked. Nothing had been able to break the chains that kept me living on the edge. Nothing…except the gentleness of His touch. 
The power of His gentleness...
In the Eye of Deception: This is my story
. www.gentlerecovery.webs.com



The publisher made an error and printed a couple of books with stretched margins. I thought I would turn this 'error' into a free give away. For everyone who leaves a comment with their email here or on my website -  your name will be written down and my daughter will pull out the name of the winner. The 'winner' will be chosen on Friday of this week. 

20 comments:

Rose said...

What a clever idea to turn an error into a gift.

rosemahoney46@gamil.com

I bet your daughter is excited to be the one choosing the winner! How fun for her.

Tammy said...

Please count me in!

tammyrude@stny.rr.com

Denise said...

Your book is going to bless so many lifes.

Paula said...

Great idea to turn this error into a gift. Obviously I would love one. However I am so very blessed in having found you and having the opportunity to get this amazing trauma therapy that the way you healed should go so someone else instead of me. I will be in Tampa in February and will order it. Love from Munich

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to let you know my review is finished and I pray you will like it. Please let me know either way what you think. I am so very nervous. Love you!

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

That's a great idea, Sarah!

You know, there are some things I've written about that people close to me don't know. It's kind of ironic but makes sense to me. I needed to write it to put it out there and to help people. I'm just trying to take this a moment at a time. Sounds weird to keep "secrets" that will become so public, but to me it makes total sense.

Anonymous said...

Sarah,
What a great idea. :)
My email is tammycounsels@yahoo.com

Blessings,
Tammy

Just Be Real said...

Thank you Sarah.

Justbereal77@aol.com

Blessings...

Ruth said...

God bless you for sharing your life so others may learn from it and be blessed.

I don't usually join 'give-aways' but I would love to have a copy with your autograph in it ;-) so I'll give it a try. Thanks!

dailydivine247@gmail.com

The Whispering Creek House said...

I would very much like to read this book! I am praying that i get it in your giveaway! You have been an inspiration...I truly do hope I will recieve it! God be with you!!

Sheila Deeth said...

What a neat idea. I'm glad to have met you through your blog.

sdeeth at msn dot com

He & Me + 3 said...

I would love a chance to win your book. Thanks, Mimi
dornx4@hotmail.com

Ms.Daisy said...

Sarah,
Thanks for stopping by on Spiritual Sunday and leaving your nice comment for me. Blessings to you.


~Jean

Zan said...

oh that is such aneat idea Sarah. Count me in :)

oiche_ghealai_07@yahoo.com

xx

Deborah Ann said...

I would LOVE to read your book:

theerdmanns@msn.com


Thanks, and God bless you in your willingness to share your story...

Karen said...

I HAVE to read your book...whether I win this giveaway or not, I will buy a copy....

ktwalden at comcast.net

Pet said...

Hi Sarah I am so glad Andrea told me about your blog. This is great and so many live will be won because of what you're sharing. Blessing and yes, thank you for stopping by.

Petsaunders@gmail.com

Marj aka Thriver said...

I can really relate to what you said about thinking it was a dream, crazy or you were making it all up. Sometimes I think I would prefer that. But, I'm with you: I want to give others hope.

Hey, when you get a chance, come over to my blog and see a little Christmas gift of gratitude I've posted there. I want to thank you for your support and kindness. Merry Christmas!

LivingforGod said...

Thank you, Sarah, for your willingness to share your painful experience in order to help and encourage others! May the Lord use you mightily for His glory!

I would love to read your book. serving_theKingofkings@yahoo.com

P.S. Are you the one who left a comment on my 40 Loaves giveaway at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/servingtheKingofkings/751989/ ? I don't see email address or blog address...I see just "Sarah" :).

Anonymous said...

How wonderful of you to turn a "mistake" into a blessing... thank you.

animperfectperfection(at)Gmail(dot)com