Tracks of a Fellow Struggler: Living and Growing through Grief

by John R. Claypool

A journey through grief that has brought comfort to others for almost half a century. John R. Claypool had been a pastor for almost two decades, ministering to others who suffered through the loss of loved ones, when the loss came home in the death of his eight-year-old daughter, Laura Lue. This is the story of Claypool's own journey through the darkness, written through four sermons. The first was delivered just eleven days after his daughter's diagnosis of leukemia, the second after her first major relapse nine months later, and the third weeks after her death. The final sermon—a reflection on the process of grieving—was preached three years later.

Genres: Grief, Christianity, Spirituality, Christian

118 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 1995

Reviews

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have loss. We all have grief. This is one man’s honest dealings with a devastating grief in the light of his faith. I found it beautiful.

[Robert Poor · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the recent sudden passing of our son Charley (20) due to drowning while on spring break in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a number of our dear friends have given us books about bereavement and grief that have been meaningful to them. John Claypool's "Tracks of a Fellow Struggler: Living and Growing through Grief" is a lovely book first published in 1974 based on four sermons Pastor Claypool preached on the experience of suffering through watching his eight year old daughter Laura Lue get diagnosed with, struggle through and ultimately succumb to acute leukemia.

This is a tiny book, small-sized and barely over 100 pages. But the thoughts expressed here are deep while being easily readable. In a conversational pastoral tone, John Claypool discusses his feelings, reactions and questions that arise while watching his innocent young daughter deal with the pain, horror and trauma of her fight with cancer. Mostly, he discusses his thoughts about God - his anger, his doubt, his lack of clear answers to his hard questions. He discusses the reasons for not simply giving up, for not over-intellectualizing the situation, for seeing the hope and love and positives that arise even in a terrible situation such as this.

This book was helpful. Thanks, Friends.

[Teri Reck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brief but potent account of grief from a pastor who watched his ten year old daughter die from leukemia. He wrote a series of four sermons about his struggle with grief and faith. The sermons were given over a period of a few years--the first one given after his daughter had relapsed after a long remission. The last was given a few years after her death. The sermons are so honest and genuine--nothing is hidden, none of the questions for God, the doubts about God's very existence, the anger at the kind of God who permits pain, or the thanksgiving for a God that sees us through all of these earthly struggles even as we blame and hurt. Using examples from the people and images in scripture, he helps to make some amount of sense in the midst of senselessness. As grief and loss are universal, everyone should read this.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book by a pastor whose daughter died. It is actually 4 sermons given at different points of her illness and death. He points to truth in different ways in each sermon.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart stirring and life changing book on grief and gratitude. Amazing book which will act as a healing balm.

[Lou Florio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of sermons accounts for the pastor’s own grief process as his young daughter gets leukemia and dies, yet his insights also have a universal, helpful nature. Amidst grief, we are pointed toward life and hope. I highly recommend this short text.

[Drew Van Gorder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, especially for how short the book is. If you're looking for a book which is a quick read but can deeply impact your understanding of grief, look no further.

[Chris Thom · Rating 1 out of 5]

After my first child was born with multiple birth defects, a priest recommended that I read this book to help me deal with my grief. It is a collection of sermons written by John Claypool during the time his daughter’s painful illness and drawn out death. While I related intimately with Claypool, as his suffering was so similar to my own, I found that his sermons did me more harm than good. Reading them actually made me sick to my stomach and I waited patiently as I continued to read to find some message of hope in his words, but there was none. He actually seems to discourage trying to find any reason why or to seat our suffering in any larger context of understanding. Ultimately, it seems that he attributes the cause of the death of his daughter to God and finds comfort in focusing on gratitude for the gift of life. God gives life and arbitrarily takes it away and we should just be grateful that at least we got to experience some shadow of life, because we don’t have any right to life…it’s a gift. Claypool’s idea of God left me with the impression that God is the ultimate Indian giver, which really left me grieving in despair.

What I find even more troubling is what Claypool didn’t mention in his sermons; nothing about the frustrated and decaying world that we have inherited from Adam, nothing about how the victory of Jesus give’s us hope of an inheritance of a renewed and everlasting world, nothing about the need for forgiveness as a means of coping with grief, and nothing about the future resurrection of our bodies. As time has passed and I’ve learned how to grieve in hope, I have often thought of John Claypool and pitied him, because even with all of his Christian education and pastoral experience, he didn’t seem to ever make the connection between the gospel of Jesus Christ and his own personal struggles.

As such, this is probably one of the worst books I’ve ever read. Two better books that have helped me are Evil and the Justice of God and Surprised by Hope by NT Wright.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many, if not most, rated this book with 5-stars. I can't go there. This book is quite simply the compilation of a few of his sermons. Nothing more, nothing less. This may work for some, but not for me.

[Martin E. Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and Insightful

John Claypool evidences in this book how God can use all things— even the worst things — to the good of those who love Him. He lost his daughter. I recently lost my son. Mr. Claypool’s struggles, thoughts, and guidance have been a great comfort to me. I recommend this book to anyone grieving over the loss of a loved one.

[J Crossley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Companion for Grief

The author’s brave accounting of what he experienced with his child being diagnosed with cancer allows me to feel that i have a companion on the journey of grief. He is honest about what he feels during her illness and after her death. The sermons written about his feelings makes one feel that they are not alone.

[ker thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Read this! Nothing is probably worse than the loss of a child and the grief there from. The points chosen for the sermons in this book are exceptionally poignant and insightful. But most notably it is the applicability of this book to grief of many types at any stage that makes it such a wonderful read.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of four of Claypool's sermons as he journeyed through the shock and grief of his young daughter's illness and death. It can be helpful for one journeying through sadness and loss, especially the third sermon which seems to offer the fullest perspective of his journey.

[George Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"to be angry because a gift has been taken away is to miss the whole point of life. gratitude and humility rather than resentment should characterized our handling of the objects of life."
Well said. Very good book on grief.

[Natalie Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest, grounded portrayal of spiritual searching (from Christian perspective) through profoud grief - the loss of a child.

[Bethany Bear · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the texts in my Literary Responses to Evil class with Dr. Greg Garrett.

[Milton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read this old classic on grief for a Christmas Memorial Service. Great for anyone struggling with grief and loss. Worth buying a few copies to give away to mourners.

[Lucy Thrasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most helpful guide through the grief following the death of my daughter. Honest, practical and beautiful.

[Jonathan Markham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

A deeply compassionate and sensitive insight into the process and pain of grief along with the potential for victorious li I’m g as a consequence

[Loyd Nolen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent personal explanation of grief and grace.

[Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've read on handling loss. Very short, very powerful.