Saturday, October 17, 2015

Blessed, Blessed ... Blessed {a Tyndale House Blog Network Review}

I'll preface this review by saying that we do watch Duck Dynasty, though generally we are a season or two behind.  I enjoy the show.  One of the most recent episodes I have seen involved Mia, who is the daughter of Jace and Missy.

She was about to head off for surgery, as she was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate, and they promised to do something special before this huge surgery. She wanted to have a big family reunion, and that is what they did.

That particular show was pretty incredible, and Mia is just so sweet. I wanted to give her a big hug. And I wanted to learn more about her.

Blessed, Blessed ... Blessed by Missy Robertson gave me that chance.  Let's start with the publisher's description of the book:
Missy Robertson knew that marrying duck-hunting family man Jase Robertson would be an adventure . . . and she was up to the challenge. Their life together was good (even after Jase grew the beard). They had two children, worked hard to help build the thriving Duck Commander business, and loved and served God.

But after a difficult and risky pregnancy, their daughter, Mia, was born with a cleft palate—a serious condition requiring multiple cranial and facial surgeries. As their baby struggled to breathe, and Missy and Jase faced a life that suddenly looked very different than the one they’d planned, they found themselves staring down one of life’s biggest questions: Where is God in all this pain?

This is the Robertsons’ story. It’s for anyone scared and overwhelmed by a problem they can’t fix; anyone lost and searching for a way through. You’ll meet the young girl Mia who captured A&E’s Duck Dynasty viewers’ hearts, and learn how Missy and Jase have raised her and their sons to be faithful, confident, and secure in who they are. You’ll be inspired by how the Robertson family stuck by each other through the hardest times. And you’ll discover that God’s blessings are bigger than you ever dreamed—and there when you need them the most.
This book is wonderful. This isn't the story of some celebrity family. It is a story of a couple who are doing the best they can to raise up their kids, in the midst of challenges of all sorts. This is mostly a story of a mom, dealing with some of the "why me" circumstances of life. Losing a baby, becoming pregnant again, discovering this third blessing was going to have some serious special needs.  Dealing with those needs.

I heard a couple of stories about my grandmother at her funeral. My dad was a polio victim, along with a few of his cousins. When he got out of Sister Kenney, Grandma was sent home with instructions for some massage and muscle stretching/strengthening therapy.

Grandma faithfully got her toddler every day, and worked through those exercises. And Dad screamed and cried like he was being tortured. His big brother ran out of the house every time because he couldn't stand the torment of listening to his little brother going through this. Seventy years later, and my dad still doesn't show any of those post-polio symptoms that are so common. Dad didn't remember any of that, but his brother sure does.

I keep wondering what kind of Mom causes her child so much pain, day in and day out, hoping the doctors are right. Hoping this will make a difference. And am I strong enough to do that?  Is anyone these days?

Missy Robinson answered that last question for me. She made me think of Grandma repeatedly.
Both of these women are in there doing incredibly hard things for a child with some special medical needs.  Both just did what they had to do, and both make me realize how we can all -- when we rely on God -- reach down and accomplish some pretty incredible things. This book made me think I can be as strong as I have to be.  With God's help.


Whether you know anything at all about this whole Duck Dynasty thing or not, this book is well worth reading.



Disclaimer:   I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers.  No other compensation was received.  The fact that I received a complimentary product does not guarantee a favorable review.

No comments: