And Still She Laughs
Defiant Joy in the Depths of Suffering
- Counseling, Grief & Mental Health
- Publisher: Nelson Books (Thomas Nelson)
- Published: 2017
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Publisher's Description
Kate Merrick examines the Bible’s gritty stories of resilient women as well as her own experience losing a child—a journey followed by more than a million on prayfordaisy.com—to reveal the reality of surprising joy and deep hope even in the midst of heartache. Is it possible live fully—even joyfully—in the middle of overwhelming pain? In the excruciating aftermath of her young daughter’s death from cancer, Kate Merrick struggled to find a way to live. Not just to survive or go through the motions, but to live fully. Faithfully. With real joy amid inevitable tears. To discover how, Kate delved into the stories in the Bible of real women who suffered deeply and emerged somehow joyful. How did Sarah, after twenty-five years of achingly empty arms, learn to laugh without bitterness? How did Bathsheba, defiled by the king who then had her husband killed, come to walk in strength and dignity, to smile without fear of the future? In her encounters with these heroines of the faith, Kate discovered how to have contentment—and even joy—whatever the circumstances. By turns heartbreaking and humorous, And Still She Laughs reveals the secret to finding hope in the midst of devastation. In the end, no matter what hardships we face, we can smile, cry, and come away full—laughing without fear and eagerly looking for what is to come. “And Still She Laughs is the terrifying, tearful, heartbreaking, heart healing and humorous, definitive true story of survival and triumph.” —Kathy Ireland, chair of Kathy Ireland Worldwide “Kate Merrick is one of those women that I always wish I had more time with—her honesty, sincerity, and messy straightforwardness are different, in the very best way. Her book, And Still She Laughs, is the same way. It’s one of those books I will keep coming back to it for truth and inspiration.” —Lindsey Nobles, COO of the IF:Gathering
Endorsements (10)
“Kate’s book is as comfortable as a coffee date with your best friend but as spiritually insightful as getting a masters in theology. She weaves together the stories of unsung women in the Bible with her own hard-won lessons of grace in the midst of suffering. These pages are a reminder that the story of God’s love in the world has been, and continues to be, written through the stories of our lives, especially the ones we would never have written for ourselves.”
“Christians tend to be known for their answers. I’m so proud of my friend Kate, for being honest about the questions that come with grief. She invites us to join her as she wrestles with God and goes looking for hope. And it needs to be said: Kate Merrick can straight-up write.”
“Kate Merrick is one of those women that I always wish I had more time with—her honesty, sincerity, and messy straightforwardness are different, in the very best way. Her book, And Still She Laughs, is the same way. It’s one of those books I will keep coming back to for truth and inspiration.”
“Where do you turn when your worst nightmare comes true? How do you hold onto faith? With spunk and vibrant honesty, Kate shares her story of suffering and loss—and her incredible journey to a great joy restored. Whatever pain life has brought you, inside these pages waits your holy invitation to laugh loud once more.”
“And Still She Laughs is the terrifying, tearful, heartbreaking, heart-healing, humorous, and definitive true story of survival and triumph. Amid an unimaginable journey of love and loss, Kate Merrick shares the beautiful and brief life of her beloved daughter, Daisy, and her victory over the cancer that claimed the mortality of her precious eight year old.”
“And Still She Laughs moves the reader beyond surface talk and plumbs to the depths of Kate’s heart and God’s word to present the reality of how God works in the dark edges and billowing sorrows of life to bring healing, wholeness, and yes—joy! With rank honesty, touches of humor, and deep insights, Kate shares the gemstones mined from the dark caverns of her life. No Bible passage is merely skimmed or receives an honorable mention. It is obvious that each story has been hashed out, thought out, and lived out in Kate’s life. Personally, I plan on keeping my office stacked with this book to share with the women who visit me to ‘talk.’ It is a compelling, insightful, and, at times, engagingly raw account of how true spirituality is lived out in a fallen world. I loved every word on every page!”
“Kate Merrick not only has the extraordinary ability to share about suffering in a way that gives a voice to our own, but also to point us toward the one hope for it. With wisdom, wit, and refreshing refreshing honesty, Kate invites us to a faith without illusions, displayed in the stories of scripture and rooted in a crucified yet risen savior.”
“Kate Merrick is a living, breathing example of how we can all go from lamenting to laughing again.”
“If you’ve endured pain and trauma, you will know how lonely loss can make you feel. Where do we go? What do we do? I love how Kate boldly and honestly dares us to laugh in moments when we feel unable to. As her story unfolds, she reveals the hope that is found behind pain, beauty in the midst of ashes, and laughter that is heard in the wake of sadness. She, like Paul the Apostle, teaches us to scream in the midst of loss, ‘O death where is your victory?”
“If there was ever a title that captured the life and witness of the author, it’s my dear friend’s book: And Still She Laughs. This book ministered to me so deeply. Guys, I recommend you buy this for a woman you love and then ask to borrow it!”
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