Dark Valley ...and Beyond

Book excerpt: DARK VALLEY .and Beyond is the story of a journey through traumatic grief. When the great love of her life was taken, deep grief was compounded by the testing of her faith. The very foundations of life seemed to be swept away. Yet the faithful Shepherd, though hidden for a time, held her through the storm, sent help when needed, and "restored her soul." This is a record of God's faithfulness "though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death..." It is a record of pain and struggle leading to healing, hope and purpose. The author grew up in a small village nestled in a farming community. It was there, as a child, that she met God. After high-school she attended a Bible College where she came to know, respect, then to love a young man who also worshiped the Lord. She taught school for a short time, then they married and together raised four children. The relationship with her earthly love, shared for more than half a century, was recognized both by herself and others as uniquely precious, a gift from the very hand of God. When death tore them apart, grief struck like a tsunami; the storm of dark, excruciating anguish nearly destroyed her. But God, though for a time unseen in those shadows, held her close and brought her through-changed, still acutely aware of deep loss-but trusting the purpose of the Almighty, the deepest Love of her life.