cover image Burdens to Blessings

Burdens to Blessings

Kim Crabill. Comfort Publishing, $13.99 trade paper (182p) ISBN 978-1-938388-22-4

Crabill, founder of Roses and Rainbows Ministries, combines personal experiences and Bible stories to design a memoir-infused study for women who struggle with painful pasts. Crabill's message is based on the premise that God can use the hurts and heartaches of anyone's life and turn them into blessings. She begins with her own childhood trauma: she lived in the comfort of an idyllic home until she was four years old, doted on by two loving parents %E2%80%93 or at least two people who she believed were her parents. Her new home was one of abuse and neglect that would wound her into adulthood, leading to anorexia, diet pills, and anger. Crabill details how she hid behind a fa%C3%A7ade of pretense and people-pleasing for years. Originally created for a small group of women who met in Crabill's home, the study includes exercises and questions for self-analysis. Crabill's wit, wisdom, and intimate revelations of how she came to a place of healing makes this an easy read even when the specifics of her story are not so easy to read. (Mar.)