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A Chronicle of Grief: Finding Life After Traumatic Loss Paperback – July 21, 2020
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Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award
"Eva not breathing. Pray."
That text message was Mel Lawrenz's entry into the harsh reality of losing his thirty-year-old daughter. Things would never be the same. How could he and his family cope with this devastating loss?
In this narrative of grief, Pastor Mel Lawrenz chronicles how his family struggled to survive the sudden death of their beloved daughter. In raw, vivid episodes, he describes the immediacy of the pain and the uncertainty of what comes next. In the agony of traumatic loss, Lawrenz apprehends the realities of love and life and offers insights on how to navigate our life priorities before or after tragedy hits.
You are not alone. You too can find a way forward.
- Print length168 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherIVP
- Publication dateJuly 21, 2020
- Dimensions5 x 0.6 x 7 inches
- ISBN-100830837604
- ISBN-13978-0830837601
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Who Are We?
Since 1947, InterVarsity Press (IVP) has been publishing thoughtful Christian books that shape both the lives of readers and the cultures they inhabit. Throughout these seventy-five years, our books and authors have established a legacy of speaking boldly into important cultural moments, providing timeless tools for spiritual growth, and equipping Christians for a vibrant life of faith.
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Mel Lawrenz has written lucidly and beautifully about the death of his beloved adult daughter. His transparent description of the overwhelming grief he experienced and the solace he found in the Lord and the community of faith is moving, instructive, and most helpful. Highly recommended." -- Jill Briscoe, founding editor of Just Between Us, teacher on Telling the Truth
"This book is difficult to read―as any honest book about death and grief must be. But it is rich and indispensable to any on this hard journey or walking with another who is. Here we witness a father's crushed heart desperately reaching for grace and truth. It is a story told with searing honesty, genuine doubt, and sustaining faith. Mel is the guide we need for the journey we do not want." -- Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief
"When the unthinkable happens to those you love most, you cope, you drag your legs out of bed in the morning, you walk as in a stupor, you move one foot in front of the other, and you limp like Jacob. The limp never goes away. This book is about the horrific, tragic death of Eva, the author's daughter, and the book is painful to read. Mel and Ingrid will limp until they die, but their limping is somehow a grace of memory that painfully reminds them of Eva. In their limping they remember Eva, they talk to Eva, they talk about Eva, they wonder and they wander, they see Eva and places she liked and they liked together. But every step, no matter how painful, is a limp with her at their side. Mel Lawrenz has been a friend for years, but I entered into his inner world in this book. Many of us are limping with Mel. At times I had to put this book down, but along the way I acquired a limp." -- Scot McKnight, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary
"Within the pages of A Chronicle of Grief, Mel Lawrenz bares his heart broken with grief, yet his story is sprinkled with hope. As I write we are in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is ripping so many from the arms of their loved ones. When he wrote this book, the author would have had no inkling of what was to come. So much death . . . so much loss . . . so much trauma . . . so much grief . . . for so many individuals and families. A Chronicle of Grief could not be more timely." -- Heather Davediuk Gingrich, professor of counseling at Denver Seminary, author of Restoring the Shattered Self
Review
"Within the pages of A Chronicle of Grief, Mel Lawrenz bares his heart broken with grief, yet his story is sprinkled with hope. As I write we are in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is ripping so many from the arms of their loved ones. When he wrote this book, the author would have had no inkling of what was to come. So much death . . . so much loss . . . so much trauma . . . so much grief . . . for so many individuals and families. A Chronicle of Grief could not be more timely."
-- Heather Davediuk Gingrich, professor of counseling at Denver Seminary, author of Restoring the Shattered SelfAbout the Author
Mel Lawrenz trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought leaders through the Brook Network. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook's minister at large, teaching in North America, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He holds a PhD in the history of Christian thought from Marquette University. His books include Spiritual Leadership Today and Life After Grief.
Product details
- Publisher : IVP (July 21, 2020)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 168 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0830837604
- ISBN-13 : 978-0830837601
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5 x 0.6 x 7 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,164,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,998 in Love & Loss
- #9,383 in Christian Self Help
- #33,260 in Memoirs (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Mel Lawrenz trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He has a Ph.D. in the history of Christian thought (Marquette University) and has been on the adjunct faculty of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Trinity International University. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s minister at large, teaching in North America, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He has authored 18 books with Zondervan, Baker, Jossey-Bass, Leadership Network, Regal, and others.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book insightful and hopeful. They describe it as authentic, truthful, and realistic. The writing style is eloquent and easy to read, with amazing verbiage throughout that helps guide people through difficult times.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book insightful and helpful. They say it offers great ideas and advice, and is a potentially life-changing treasure. The author teaches how to balance joy and grief with encouragement and hard-won wisdom.
"...It is raw and real and at times hard to read, but it is also full of insight and hope...." Read more
"...occur after a traumatic loss and how to deal with it, physically, spiritually, and mentally. The addition of scriptures gives hope to the reader...." Read more
"...Mel Lawrenz’s deeply honest sharing of his personal experiences with traumatic losses is a gift to all of us, and should be readily available in..." Read more
"...This book spoke to my heart. I could feel Mel’s emotions as I relived mine while reading this narrative...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's authenticity. They find it truthful, raw, and realistic, with honest questions and realistic answers.
"This book is extraordinary. It is raw and real and at times hard to read, but it is also full of insight and hope...." Read more
"...Authentic, truthful, and overflowing with hope." Read more
"...mother who lost her son to suicide two years ago, I felt this book was honest, insightful and consistent with the best grief counseling available...." Read more
"Beautifully written. No platitudes, just hard-won wisdom and truth. It gives hope to those grieving, and help for those walking alongside them." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's writing style. They find it easy to read and potentially life-changing. The verbiage throughout the book helps guide readers through difficult times. Readers mention it's an excellent but challenging read.
"...The addition of scriptures gives hope to the reader. It is written with great love for his precious daughter, but anyone who has suffered a loss..." Read more
"...It’s beautifully written, and it left me feeling hopeful and grateful for the advice that all of us will need at some point in our lives." Read more
"...Some incredible verbiage given throughout the book to help walk with people in their darkest days." Read more
"...That would be all of us. Beautifully and eloquently written, this is a book to get and a book to give." Read more
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Like having a friend beside you who has recently walked the grief journey
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2020This book is extraordinary. It is raw and real and at times hard to read, but it is also full of insight and hope. I've heard much smarter people than me say this book surpasses C.S. Lewis's "A Grief Observed." If you know anyone suffering a terrible loss please give this book to them. I have given away multiple copies already and because of what the author has experienced, through this book he walks alongside and understands those suffering a deep loss. Those I gave the book to were deeply comforted. This book is not theory or teaching from someone who has not lived that about which he writes.. It's also a small book with short chapters which is good for those in deep grief. Anyone will benefit from this book--those in grief, those who help those in grief (counselors, therapists), and those who just want to learn how help someone they love who is grieving (that was me--I have learned so much by reading this book and am deeply grateful that the author was willing to share his painful journey.)
- Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2020I read the book before I gifted it to my friend who lost her husband after a long illness. As a widow myself, I had read and benefited from Mel Lawrenz's first book, Life After Grief. His new book is a shorter read and does a very good job describing many of the feelings that occur after a traumatic loss and how to deal with it, physically, spiritually, and mentally. The addition of scriptures gives hope to the reader. It is written with great love for his precious daughter, but anyone who has suffered a loss in life will benefit from his thoughtful and heartfelt words. As a reader, I could feel his pain. Clearly Eva was a beautiful human being.
I was so happy to read Appendix 1 and 2 included at the end of this new book from Life After Grief.
I would recommend this book.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2020Google, Alexa and Wikipedia can offer answers to millions of questions. But I don’t know if any other resource in the world that provides such valuable information regarding both healing from a heartbreak of any cause, or supporting others who are suffering. Mel Lawrenz’s deeply honest sharing of his personal experiences with traumatic losses is a gift to all of us, and should be readily available in every home, along with a few copies to have on hand for others who will no doubt need support at some time in their lives. I believe our neighborhoods and communities would be better places if we all spent time with this easy to read and potentially life changing treasure. It’s beautifully written, and it left me feeling hopeful and grateful for the advice that all of us will need at some point in our lives.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023This book is not like others I’ve read on grief. It describes the author’s journey after losing his daughter. My husband passed away but this was the best book I’d read. Very applicable to loss
- Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2020I have gone through many losses. My parents, my husband , my youngest brother, two dear friends, and just last year my boyfriend of 7 years, whom I started dating 16 years after my husband’s death. This book spoke to my heart. I could feel Mel’s emotions as I relived mine while reading this narrative. Mel’s transparency and vulnerability reached my soul. I came away from this chronicle of grief with renewed hope and encouragement. I’ve read a lot of books on grief over the years, but I would rate this one at the top. Authentic, truthful, and overflowing with hope.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2022Raw and breathtaking journey through deep grief. Some incredible verbiage given throughout the book to help walk with people in their darkest days.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2022I have gone through several trauma dead's, this book was insightful, giving many great ideas and advise. Many I have already used or past on to other going through a trauma dead. I would recommend this book to counselors, pastors, and a person going through trauma grief.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2023I have read many grief books after my son passed away suddenly. This one is good in many ways, but I was disappointed in the lack of reference and dependence on God and scripture. I have only made it through this time with God’s strength and comfort holding me. I felt like this book lacked that aspect. Shortly after this book, I found Tim Challies’ book ‘Seasons of Sorrow’ and have recommended it and bought it for many people. It is wonderful and full of biblical truths.