I first discovered Vaneetha through desiringgod.org where she has written a number of articles. I was drawn to her writing style, particularly, her honesty, rawness and vulnerability. I read her first book “The Scars that have Shaped me” and when I discovered she had a new release (Walking through Fire) I knew I had to dig in.
In this book, Vaneetha describes how she has experienced deep pain emotionally, relationally, and continues to feel it in her body most acutely. Life for her has been a series of significant losses;
- Polio as a child
- Multiple miscarriages
- Death of her infant son
- A husband that left the family
- Post-polio syndrome that affects her everyday
Yet this book is upbeat, thoroughly engaging, and a joyful in tone. She has come out through these fires trusting God more than ever before.
Vaneetha knows how and what it means to suffer deeply. Throughout you'll be aware that she is a real woman with real struggles. I particularly appreciated that she was forthright with her struggles as a parent of teenage daughters. She doesn't set herself up as a mentor or teacher or expert, she shares real struggles and failures, raw conversations, and honest questions. She shares her story vulnerably and shows us how we too can meet God in the midst of our pain but choose to rejoice in the story he is sovereignly writing for us. Although she lived a life that was full of trials and suffering, Vaneetha shows us what it means to grieve with hope. In Vaneetha's words, " When we begin to understand God's purpose-begin to glimpse him working for our good-we can experience true joy even inside our sorrow”.
I highly recommend this emotionally gripping, beautiful story. Find it, Read it!
Kaps.
