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Forty: The Year My Husband Became a Quadriplegic
In 2010, Steve Ruetschle was in a catastrophic motorcycle accident that instantly left him quadriplegic. In Forty, his wife Michelle recounts her faith journey through the barren landscape of his arduous recovery and the ongoing challenges of living with paralysis. Navigating the spiritual complexities of both hope and despair, Forty takes you by the hand and invites you into one believer’s story of how faith made a difference in the midst of seemingly insurmountable loss.
- GenresNonfiction
163 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2016
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21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 26, 2020
I met Michelle through our kids’ school this year and knew that her husband Steve was the pastor at Sunset Presbyterian where my dad used to be on staff. She shared with me a bit of their story and I was anxious to read her book! I am amazed at her faith in Jesus as her family journeyed through her husband’s tragic accident. Inspiring story of faith and determination!
April 13, 2024
I was not prepared for such poignant writing- I am blown away. We prayed for Steve and his family after his accident and I purchased this book in 2017 but it sat on a shelf until 2 days ago when I pulled it out to read. Everything about it- the accident, the recovery, the writing, the faith journey, the short chapters... leads to a deeper understanding of difficulty and increases my thankfulness to God and compassion toward others.
January 12, 2017
I remember exactly where I was when I heard that Pastor Steve had been in a motorcycle accident and was clinging to life. During the days, months, and weeks that followed, I religiously read Michelle's updates, crying out to God with them, and rejoicing in the victories. Michelle was eloquent and yet completely real in those updates. And now, 6 years later, she draws on those memories and those updates to tell the story of Steve's accident, of God's faithfulness, of what it means to rejoice in all things, the things that they learned not only about the human body but about living lives of faith in the midst of tragedy and despair.
It's a book that I'll be picking up again and sharing with others.
It's a book that I'll be picking up again and sharing with others.
March 3, 2018
Forty: The Year My Husband Became a Quadriplegic by Michelle Ruetschle
I bought this book after we began attending Union Church of Manila where Steve is the Senior Pastor. I was curious to find out more about the Ruetschle family after reading part of their story on their blog. I find that Michelle is an excellent writer who excellently gives Scripture-soaked faith insights in the midst of the trial of her husband's accident and patient recovery. Their marriage is obviously quite strong--filled with deep love and trust--and is a beautiful picture to see.
I once reviewed Don Piper's book (90 Minutes in Heaven) about his grueling recovery from a near-fatal car accident. At the time, I wondered what a book written by his wife would have looked like. This is essentially similar. Michelle had to deal with the medical staff, the transportation, the hygiene, the parenting, etc.
"Reduced to the barest bones of myself by the severity of events unfolding before me, the groundwork of my life was exposed. The strength of my beliefs, the endurance of my love for my spouse, and my trust in a good heavenly Father were all tested by the wide reaches of the calamity that befell us, its effects rippling out over many months and then years" (p. 2)
But throughout it all she maintains a hope and faith that are quite strong-- she makes it look easy. She writes of their difficult surrender to God's purposes through their ordeal:
"While everyone prayed for healing, it was difficult to distinguish the human desire from the God-given hope. One is sweetly offered but empty of any spiritual fruit, an utterly human desire to avoid or, better yet, eradicate pain and suffering at all costs. While God does not spurn this legitimate desire, aching with us and gathering each tear, His work is deeper and longer and wider in its scope" (p. 74).
"People often used the word “miracle.” They were right. But sometimes miracles are stained with sweat and tears" (p.97).
"I have swung back and forth between a confidence that God longs for healing for every believer and an understanding of the value of suffering for refinement, for instruction, for testing and for accomplishing God’s purposes among us" (p. 176).
Steve's recovery is definitely miraculous, even rapid by some measures, and there is never a point in the book where you feel the situation is hopeless. It's a real pleasure to read, a testament to God's power in Steve's healing and God's presence in Michelle's writing style. You will find a lot of wisdom about life and marriage. Five stars.
I bought this book after we began attending Union Church of Manila where Steve is the Senior Pastor. I was curious to find out more about the Ruetschle family after reading part of their story on their blog. I find that Michelle is an excellent writer who excellently gives Scripture-soaked faith insights in the midst of the trial of her husband's accident and patient recovery. Their marriage is obviously quite strong--filled with deep love and trust--and is a beautiful picture to see.
I once reviewed Don Piper's book (90 Minutes in Heaven) about his grueling recovery from a near-fatal car accident. At the time, I wondered what a book written by his wife would have looked like. This is essentially similar. Michelle had to deal with the medical staff, the transportation, the hygiene, the parenting, etc.
"Reduced to the barest bones of myself by the severity of events unfolding before me, the groundwork of my life was exposed. The strength of my beliefs, the endurance of my love for my spouse, and my trust in a good heavenly Father were all tested by the wide reaches of the calamity that befell us, its effects rippling out over many months and then years" (p. 2)
But throughout it all she maintains a hope and faith that are quite strong-- she makes it look easy. She writes of their difficult surrender to God's purposes through their ordeal:
"While everyone prayed for healing, it was difficult to distinguish the human desire from the God-given hope. One is sweetly offered but empty of any spiritual fruit, an utterly human desire to avoid or, better yet, eradicate pain and suffering at all costs. While God does not spurn this legitimate desire, aching with us and gathering each tear, His work is deeper and longer and wider in its scope" (p. 74).
"People often used the word “miracle.” They were right. But sometimes miracles are stained with sweat and tears" (p.97).
"I have swung back and forth between a confidence that God longs for healing for every believer and an understanding of the value of suffering for refinement, for instruction, for testing and for accomplishing God’s purposes among us" (p. 176).
Steve's recovery is definitely miraculous, even rapid by some measures, and there is never a point in the book where you feel the situation is hopeless. It's a real pleasure to read, a testament to God's power in Steve's healing and God's presence in Michelle's writing style. You will find a lot of wisdom about life and marriage. Five stars.
January 9, 2017
"This whole book is my love letter to God" is written on the last page; not what you might expect to read in a book about a life-changing accident. However, after reading Forty, it is perfect. Michelle's story is told with incredible beauty. I found myself in awe of her words just as often as I stopped to choke back my tears. Highly recommended! #12BooksofChristmas
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews