Porcupine People: Learning to Love the Unlovable

Ezell (Iron Jane) knows the requirements of tough love and forgiving what she calls the porcupine people all around her. The child of alcoholic parents who was raped as a teenager, Ezell says that ""the quills of porcupine people don't shoot out: you can only be hurt by reaching out to touch one of them.... But if you and I are going to walk in the light with Christ, then we must give [forgiveness] another try."" Ezell contends that we meet porcupine people in the workplace, at school and even in our family. Using anecdotes from her own life and from the lives of her friends, Ezell devotes her first four chapters to the importance of loving the unlovable, dealing with enemies and understanding that any successful relationship entails difficult struggles. Ezell then offers her keys to the process of loving again. She instructs the wounded in heart to accept their porcupine person, flaws and all, believe the best of others, confront with care, decide to improve the relationship, put forth effort and fully forgive. Ezell provides numerous scriptural references to support her admonition to forgive, and each chapter closes with a series of reflective questions designed to help readers put into practice her advice. (Oct.)