‘A Scarlet Cord of Hope: My Journey through Guilt, Shame, and Fear to Hope’ by Sheryl Griffin – Book Review and Giveaway

One thing that I cherish more than anything since I joined Facebook and started my blog is meeting some incredibly wonderful people – both online and, more importantly, in person. One of the lovely ladies I have met is Sheryl Griffin, author of ‘A Scarlet Cord of Hope: My Journey through Guilt, Shame and Fear to Hope.’ I was introduced to her when my husband, Fred, and I were in Nashville TN at the end of April/first of May this year for the Nashville Marathon. We were scheduled to have breakfast with the equally lovely Charlotte Hunt (author of several books, including her latest, ‘Dream Madly, Pursue Wildly, and Trust Completely: What You Wanted to Be When You Grew Up;’ looking forward to being encouraged once again when I read it!) and sweet and lovely Patty Mason, whose latest book is ‘Finally Free: Breaking the Bonds of Depression Without Drugs.’ Charlotte and Patty brought their friend, Sheryl, along with them – and I am so glad they did! She shared her autobiography with me, and it is one powerful story!

Here is the synopsis of this book:

        Guilt Shame Fear Panic Anxiety

Do these words identify you? Are you living under their influence? Is the weight of the past robbing you of your future?

Hope

A Scarlet Cord of Hope is the true life testimony of Sheryl Griffin. As God has healed her on her journey, she wants to share her healing with you. From alcoholic parents, to an abusive first marriage, to being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, chances are many of her trials have also been yours.

Sheryl has a past that hung on her neck like a scarlet cord. She now knows that what she thought was a noose was actually a God-given lifeline to His grace. Discover what Sheryl found on her journey…Love, mercy, forgiveness, and hope.

Here is the biography of this author:

Wife, mother, teacher – Sheryl Griffin resides in Franklin, TN with her husband Doug. They have two children and are actively involved in their church. Sheryl enjoys encouraging other through writing, speaking, and blogging. You can visit her website at www.SherylGriffin.com.

Here is Part One of a four-part TV interview with Sheryl; it provides some great insight into the heart of this lady who is beautiful inside and out:

In this autobiography, Sheryl shares her life story with her readers, in hope that her struggles will help impact others. After reading it, I can certainly imagine that it has and it will. She is extremely transparent about the trials she’s gone through, as well as sharing the highlights (her children, her Godly marriage, etc….). It was a pleasure to read this book and learn more about this lovely lady.

In the Introduction, Sheryl shares what she hopes for this book – ‘hope’ being the operative word:

I have felt like my life experiences have been like a series of puzzle pieces. I did not know what the final puzzle would look like, but I knew that I needed to put the pieces together to bring order to my life. The goal of this book is to honestly examine each piece as an individual and with God’s help, put them together.

This is not a book complaining about my childhood or being a victim. This book is not meant to tell every aspect of my life. The events, situations, and experiences I tell about are what I feel propelled me into PTSD [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder], panic, and anxiety. It was not one event for me; it was a lifetime of events, circumstances, and people. As I look back I can see each of these situations as threads in my life, threads that are not necessarily strong on their own but woven together they create a cord that hung firmly from my neck. The threads, scarlet in color, signify the guilt and shame I felt over certain situations and events in my life. (pp. xii-xiii)

I loved the fact that each chapter ends with a section entitled ‘What I Know Now.’ One point in particular that she makes is very important for everyone to know:

There are many red flags or warning signs of abusive relationships. Here are eight that are important not to ignore:

·         One person pushes for a quick and exclusive relationship

·         Is jealous/possessive

·         Blames others for problems or mistakes

·         Makes others feel responsible for their feelings or choices

·         Has unrealistic expectations

·         Angers easily…leaving you feeling like you are walking on egg shells

·         Has a history of abusing others or animals

·         Uses words, facial expressions, or physical violence to intimidate you (p. 45)

I also loved this other ‘What I Know Now:’

As my pastor, Chris Williamson, once said, “If you want to be covered by the will of God, you must choose to come under the covering and stay there.” (p. 85)

God healed her brokenness over the years. She shares how it happened for her, and for her husband, Doug; the setting for her here was a Mom’s Bible Study:

With each book we read and discussed, it seemed our “masks” were coming off. It was the first time in my life that I had openly shared my testimony. I was in awe at the other women’s response towards me. For once in my life I was seeing my sins not as a scarlet cord around my neck but as a testimony of grace and forgiveness. The scarlet cord represents the blood of Jesus washing over all of my sins, cleansing me of my sin – NOT reminding me of my guilt and shame. This was a huge spiritual turning point for me. During this time Doug created a similar group for the men. They had Bible study and prayer time. He was also sharing openly about his past. We both recognized the power of taking off our masks and walking in truth. (p. 101)

Sheryl closes out her book this way:

As I look back through all of my life I can see God’s footprints in the sand carrying me along the way. It truly is one day at a time, one situation at a time. My life today is about surrounding myself with good people who will encourage my walk with God, including family, church, and friends, keeping my spiritual armor on, being open and honest, letting my faith grow and not being afraid to stretch and grow. I also need to remember that while growing pains do hurt, in the end it is for the betterment of the body, mind, and heart. Each day is a choice to live the life God has given me to the fullest, and remembering that ultimately, I can only be responsible for my own choices and happiness. (p. 159)

I admit I had to read this book in one sitting! I started reading it before bed. When it came time to go to sleep, I couldn’t; I had to know ‘the rest of the story’!

This book is so encouraging! I would heartily recommend it to anyone who has struggled through the trials of life, or who needs to come through to the other side after a tragedy. I thank Sheryl for exposing her heart, and showing us how Jesus has restored it and continues to refine her day after day.

Here is a picture of the five of us after our breakfast meeting in Franklin, Tennessee. From left to right are Fred, me (with an unfortunately placed fanny pack under my shirt….), Charlotte, Patty, and Sheryl. That was a fun time – and I hope we can do it again!

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Westview, Inc. and generously provided by the author for review purposes.

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Sheryl has generously offered to provide a personally autographed copy of this powerful book to one blessed person!

There are several ways to gain entry:

1) Leave a comment here on the blog, telling me why you’re interested in reading this book. Please make sure to leave your email address in this format – sample[at]gmail[dot]com.

2) Follow Sheryl on Twitter. Please leave a separate comment stating that you are now following her, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

3) ‘Like’ Sheryl’s page on Facebook. Please leave a separate comment to that effect.

4) Follow me on Twitter.  If you are already a Twitter follower, that counts, too!  Please leave a new comment to that effect, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

5) Tweet the following tweet once per day:

Want hope? Win ‘A Scarlet Cord of Hope’ by @SherylGriffin from @andrealschultz. http://bit.ly/oeQlNV #giveaway Please RT!

Please leave a comment for each tweet, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

6) Visit Sheryl’s website and leave a comment telling me your favorite thing on it, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

7) Post my blog button on your blog. You can grab the HTML code on the right side of my blog. Please leave a comment to that effect, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

8) Follow me as a Google Friend on this blog; if you are already a Friend, that counts, too!  Please leave a new comment to that effect, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

9) Become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

10) Follow this blog as a NetWorked Blog Follower after you’ve become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a new comment to that effect, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

So there are LOTS of chances to enter!  Please limit one entry per option except for the Twitter tweet option (which can be done once per day), along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

This give away is for U.S. residents only. The deadline for entry is Friday, September 2, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST. A winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on Saturday, September 3, 2011 and will be contacted via email. The best to all of you!

‘Damaged Goods: Learning to Dream Again’ by Charlotte D. Hunt – Book Review and Giveaway

One of my favorite people, who I first met on Facebook, is Charlotte D. Hunt.  I had the great good fortune to recently read her second autobiography, ‘Damaged Goods: Learning to Dream Again.’ which continues her amazingly encouraging life story.   

Here is the synopsis of this autobiography:

In this follow up to “DAMAGED GOODS: An Autobiography,”  the author brings new light on the true story in which she received a desperate call from a stranger from her past beckoning her to his side in the wake of a car accident. This journey unravels the untold stories, details, struggles, secrets, pictures, updates and path of learning how to dream again in the midst of losing everything that were never included in the first book.

Based on the author’s miraculous journey into learning to hope, “DAMAGED GOODS: Learning to Dream Again” is an amazingly uplifting, funny, transforming and life-changing story of an invitation to recall her fight in learning how to dream and hope again. Concluding with a cliff-hanger ending, “DAMAGED GOODS: Learning to Dream Again” takes the reader on a whirlwind of tragedy, hopelessness, and a mother’s curse to a landing of success, inspiration, and a legacy of hope. Experience a journey to begin to dream again.

Here is the author’s biography:

Charlotte D. Hunt is a national speaker, author, radio personality, encouragement expert, founder of Dream Madly Ministries, and favorite lecturer for the First Lady of Tennessee, district attorney offices, corporate leadership and sales programs, treatment providers, Christian leadership, educators, non-profits, and women’s conferences.  For over 23 years, she has been dedicated to releasing and exhorting lives to “Dream Madly, Pursue Wildly, and Trust Completely!”

After studying music education, psychology, and vocal jazz studies in Akron, OH, Charlotte went on to teach at the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory of Music and had a successful career as a music director, background vocalist, studio musician and jazz artist working and touring with world-renown performers in the music industry. Charlotte continued her career as a voice-over artist, stage and reparatory actor in off Broadway touring companies with performance in national television documentaries and commercials, radio programs, PBS specials, jingles, and internationally as a runway model.

Charlotte has triumphed over a tragic and abusive past to become a dynamic author, teacher, speaker, encourager and impacting leader of changed lives through diverse audiences around the country. Her success has been rooted in her “ability to stretch people to start believing that it is possible to dream again!”

Charlotte was recently featured on the ‘700 Club.’ Here is her story that was shared there:

Charlotte has been through a lot in her life. She takes us on the journey with her in this, her second autobiography. In the Preface, she shared something that was very powerful to me. Metro Detroit has a large outreach comprised of over 550 churches and ministries; it is called EACH – Everyone A Chance to Hear. One of the big campaigns is the 2 Word Story campaign. My 2 Word Story is ‘Hope? Hope.’ The 2 Word Story represents our life before and after we met Christ. So this passage has special meaning to me:

My journey, this book, in learning to dream again was not teaching me the steps or ways to dream after surviving a childhood of tragedy. My journey is learning to dream again was realizing I never knew how to dream because I refused to hope. It is impossible to dream dreams big enough to fail without desiring with expectation of fulfillment.

For a father who dreams of his comatose son catching and throwing a football with him again, he must have hope. For a young student who dreams of becoming a lawyer because of injustice she sees in her school, hope has to exist. For a mother who dreams for the future of her daughter in being a better woman that she was, no dream can take place without hoping, an expectation that the desire will happen. (pp. xiv-xv)

Charlotte learned at an early age that she was a lot like her mother in certain ways:

As far back as I can remember, I loved school and learning new information. My mother was a schoolteacher and loved to disseminate words, concepts, and information, so we found a strong connection in our passion for learning and growing. I would come home from grade school eager to stump her with a new bit of information I learned. Most times, she would know the answer to whatever subject I threw at her. When she didn’t know the answer, mom was quick to open my schoolbook or seek out more information from one of her resources she had on hand.

Researching, seeking out answers, and gaining knowledge in areas that were unknown were seeds for a foundation of learning that my mother instilled in me. I know my love of reading and my habit of asking questions of people and their lives was birthed from being around her. (pp. 56-57)

Charlotte’s mother (who passed away on August 6, 2006) reminds me a lot of my mother (who passed on December 24, 2004) in that they both expected perfection from their daughters:

My mother laid a foundation for my burgeoning view that performance was equal to worth and that tears, tenderness and vulnerability were negative and shameful attributes to have. She was a woman and a mother who was not able to love well. Nevertheless, she was my mother. (p. 63)

I love her description of how she came to Jesus:

The pastor continued to talk about Jesus as though he was a personal and intimate being capable of having a real relationship with us. He said that Jesus accepted and loved me but the pastor explained further about the depth of his love that caused him to die for me. The pastor’s message gave me a new perspective of Jesus that I did not understand before. Surprisingly, when the pastor asked if I believe Jesus was the Son of God and died for my sins, I shouted “Yes!” and suddenly I felt a joy I did not recall having before. I felt strange. I did not fall out or start salivating at the mouth. No angel from above came into the church to zap all my problems, worries, and shame issues away. Yet, I had the feeling that I was not alone anymore. I experienced a lightness and desire to let everyone know I was now in the family of Christians. (p. 86)

Toward the end of the book, she made a discovery about herself:

The reality is that I never lost the ability to dream, I simply gave up hope, the foundation in which we dream. In my life, learning to have a goal, knowing I had a purpose and walking through a plan was difficult. However, learning how to want to dream and live again was life changing. I am learning how to dream by joining the invitation to jump, laugh, play, fail, cry, be enjoyed and loved without attachments, earning, performance, or work. I can wake in the morning and spend my day hoping with every breath in my body, and dream so passionately that nothing can ever hold me back. It is a journey to dream madly, pursue wildly, and trust completely, but not perfectly. Interestingly, I started a ministry called Dream Madly Ministries. The focus is to motivate, impact, and exhort lives to run, play, laugh, fail, dream, enjoy and be enjoyed in spite of our past or present circumstances. (pp. 167-168)       

One of my dreams finally happened at the end of April this year, when Fred and I went down to Nashville, Tennessee for the Country Music Marathon. I knew that I would want to meet Charlotte whenever I visited Nashville again. We were able to meet Charlotte, as well as fellow author and Facebook friend Patty Mason, author of ‘Transformed by Desire’ (you can read my review here). The ladies also invited a friend of theirs, Sheryl Griffin, who is now also my friend. She is also an author; her book is entitled ‘A Scarlet Cord of Hope: My Journey Through Guilt, Shame and Fear, to Hope.’ She generously provided a copy of her book to me, and I look forward to reading her story also. Here is a photo of the five of us – Fred, me, Charlotte, Patty, and Sheryl – after our wonderful breakfast meeting.  

Charlotte recently relocated to Dallas to embark on another adventure as guided by her Lord.  I can’t wait to see what He has in store for her!  I highly recommend ‘Damaged Good: Learning to Dream Again’ to any type of reader. We have all been hurt and broken in this fallen world, and it is an encouragement and revelation to me to see how God continues to use Ms. Hunt!

I was really touched when I learned that Charlotte not only thanked me in the Acknowledgement page of this book, but also quoted from my first review on the ‘Recommendations’ page!

Charlotte’s first book, ‘Damaged Good: An Autobiography’ was one of the first books I reviewed on my blog (you can read the review here). Based on how well I was inspired by that book, I knew I had to read the sequel when I learned about it. She is currently working on her third book, ‘Dream Madly, Pursue Wildly, Trust Completely,’ which will be released this summer. I, of course, will have to read that one as well!

You can order this book here.

This book was generously provided to me by the author for review and giveaway purposes.

I have a copy of this book that I would love to pass along to one of you!

There are several ways to gain entry:

1) Leave a comment here on the blog, telling me how you ‘dream madly – pursue wildly – trust completely!’  Please make sure to leave your email address in this format – sample[at]gmail[dot]com.

2) Follow Charlotte on Twitter. Please leave a separate comment stating that you are now following her, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

3) Follow me on Twitter.  If you are already a Twitter follower, that counts, too!  Please leave a new comment to that effect, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

4) Tweet the following tweet once per day:

Win a copy of ‘Damaged Goods: Learning to Dream Again’ by @charlottedhunt from @andrealschultz. http://bit.ly/kzQ4nK Please RT!

Please leave a comment for each tweet, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

5) Visit Charlotte’s website and leave a comment telling me what was of most interest to you on it, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

6) Post my blog button on your blog. You can grab the HTML code on the right side of my blog. Please leave a comment to that effect, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

7) Follow me as a Google Friend on this blog; if you are already a Friend, that counts, too!  Please leave a new comment to that effect, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

8) Become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

9) Follow this blog as a NetWorked Blog Follower after you’ve become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a new comment to that effect, along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

So there are several chances to enter!  Please limit one entry per option except for the Twitter tweet option (which can be done once per day) , along with your email address in the sample[at]gmail[dot]com format.

This give away is for U.S. residents only.  The deadline for entry is Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  A winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 and will be contacted via email.  The best to all of you!