Cheryl Norman
You read that right. Forgiveness is good mental health.
How can Taylor Drake forgive the man who attacked
her and murdered her roommate? How can Adam Gillespie forgive the man who
contributed to his family’s financial ruin? How can Taylor and Wil forgive the
person responsible for their mother’s death? How can Adam forgive the man who
abandoned his pregnant sister and later forgive a startling betrayal within his
own family?
Yet, ultimately, they do forgive, and that’s the heart
of the story. Have you had to forgive someone when it went against every fiber
of your being? Or have you had to forgive yourself?
I’ve watched television programs about people who
visit the killer of a loved one in prison and forgive them. "How can they?" I’ve
asked myself repeatedly. Could I do that? Frankly, I hope I never have to test
myself on that one!
I remember after the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001, when ministers called on their congregations to forgive
those attackers. How’d you do with that one? I struggled. I was angry and
shocked. I wanted swift justice. Forgiving those responsible for all those
innocent lives asked too much. Yet I finally made peace with myself and forgave
them, thanks to the five lessons I learned (and share below).
Forgiveness isn’t easy. It can be one of the
hardest emotional decisions you’ll make. If you aren’t able to forgive, the
price you pay is high. The Drake and Gillespie families find this out for
themselves until they learn these five lessons:
1. Forgiveness
isn’t earned. You don’t forgive an offender because he deserves it.
2. Forgiveness
isn’t necessarily wanted or requested. The offender need not ask you for
forgiveness. In fact, he may be indifferent to your feelings.
3. Forgiveness
isn’t approval. You aren’t endorsing the behavior by forgiving the
offender.
4. Forgiveness
can be anonymous. Just because you forgive an offender, doesn’t mean he or
she will know about it (i.e. he may even be dead).
5. Forgiveness
is healthy. It relieves stress.
(Remember, resentment is an acid that eats away at its container).
In conclusion, forgiveness is about the forgiver,
not about the forgiven. Do it for your own health.
I hope you enjoy the mystery and romance that
unfolds in REBUILD MY WORLD. Although its theme is forgiveness, the story is
much more. Enjoy.
~*~
Rebuild
My World by Cheryl Norman
More than anything, Taylor Drake wants
her life back. Suffering from the agoraphobia that has plagued her since a
brutal attack, the once confident and successful photographer now cowers behind
closed doors with a loaded pistol.
…Ms.
Norman is a gifted storyteller. I loved Rebuild My World and eagerly turned the pages, excited to
see what event would next happen to keep this story moving. Not only is it well
plotted, but the characterizations draw you into the lives of these people. Ms.
Norman tells a compelling tale that keeps you guessing. Vine Voice Amazon
Reviewer, 5 Stars
~*~
Cheryl Norman grew up in
Louisville, Kentucky, and earned a BA in English at Georgia State University in
Atlanta. After a career in the telecommunications industry, she turned to
fiction writing and won the 2003 EPPIE award for her contemporary romance,
Last Resort. Her debut with Medallion Press, Restore My Heart,
led to a mention in Publisher's Weekly
as one of ten new romance authors to watch. Running Scared, a romantic suspense set in Jacksonville, Florida,
and Washington D.C., received a Perfect 10 from Romance Reviews Today. Reviewer
Harriet Klausner calls her writing "Mindful of Linda Howard." She
currently writes the Drake Springs series romance novels for Turquoise Morning
Press.
Her passion for cooking and
healthful eating led her to write four cookbooks and an award-winning blog, The
Hasty Tasty Meals Kitchen (hastytastymeals.com). She also offers writers
grammar help via her Grammar Cop blog, newsletter articles, and workshops.
In addition to writing fiction
and cookbooks, Cheryl works with other breast cancer survivors to raise
awareness about early detection and treatment of the disease.
BN http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/small-town-charm-love-mystery-cheryl-norman/1120220580?ean=2940046127706
Ibooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/small-town-charm-love-mystery/id912967873?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
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