Weak and Loved

by Emily Cook

"People say, be strong. I say, be weak and be loved."

It was a time of abundant, noisy blessings for Emily Cook. Five children, age 5 and younger, energetically consumed her food, her time, and her heart. Then, in the fall of 2008, this loud and happy life was shattered by a deafening silence. Bouncy four-year-old Aggie was stopped in her tracks by a seizure--It was to be the first of many.

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.

"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 President, American Lutheran Theological Seminary

Genres: Nonfiction

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 212

Reviews

[Corrine B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was easy to read (short, easily digestible chapters) and had a compelling storyline and a satisfying dénouement. I could easily relate with the author and her time of life as a mother of several young children. Her story and her daughter’s condition inspired compassion and gratitude for my own healthy children, and also brought back memories of my days working with adults with special needs. The author did a great job of presenting her viewpoint unapologetically, and did not hide the parts of her story that she saw as weak or ugly. It was a very frank, real, and honest depiction of what it was like for her going through a very difficult trial. I found her reliance on God admirable and worthy of being emulated, yet also accessible because she didn’t pretend to have perfect trust. She emphasized how God continued to come for her and her family through other people, even when she wanted to run away from God and her situation.

Also, I thought her depiction of the Christian life to be quite accurate and not kitschy. I have read Christian fiction that has made me cringe because of the fakey “God talked to me” moments that always ring hollow. The author here never pretended to hear from God outside of His Word, and shared how God usually ministered to her through other people. This has been my experience as well.

[Drenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an emotional journey, but points to our source of peace in the middle of life's storms.

[Chiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was so moving, and written so honestly. It took me a long time to read it because I would have to stop after a few chapters when I started to think too much how I would react in a situation such as this.

I thought that Emily's reaction after the surgery was unexpected (but then made total sense)--I think I would be the same way.

It was a pleasure to read this emotional and truthful story.

[Traceylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why

This is a heart warming story of a Christian family who's daughter gets epilepsy as a child and had different kinds of seizures. How the family deals with coping when she gets the epilepsy as a child

[Dnabgeek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of one family's journey as they deal with epilepsy. My full review: http://obsessivebookworm.wordpress.co...