"Inheritance of Tears" Book Review & Giveaway!!!

Inheritance of Tears: Trusting The Lord of Life When Death Visits The Womb
Jessalyn Hutto
Cruciform Press 2015

When the deep loss of miscarriage strikes it can leave hurting parents who are searching for truth to cling to. While God is the God of all comfort it can become very discouraging when His Word doesn't seem to reach the depths of the pain we are experiencing. Friends and family stand by wanting to help but feeling completely unsure as to what they should say or do. It is for these reasons that this book, Inheritance of Tears: Trusting The Lord of Life When Death Visits The Womb, is an invaluable resource for those tossed about in the sea of grief. Whether you have personally experienced miscarriage or have been given the opportunity to minister to a grieving parent this short book is a must for your personal library.

Follow this link to purchase a personal copy of Inheritance of Tears 

Content Summary

Inheritance of Tears is an incredibly unique book in that it simultaneously reaches three audiences in just five short chapters. To sum up Jessalyn Hutto's own thesis statement this is a book which provides grieving women biblical answers to make sense of their suffering, grieving couples a solid framework of truth to stand on, and friends the tools they need to minister the gospel effectively and compassionately. The book begins with the creation and fall of man which has resulted in a corrupt and broken world riddled with sin. In this chapter Hutto biblically answers common questions which arise out of our own frailty such as:

"Is my miscarriage a punishment from God for my own sin?"

"If I had been more obedient or done something differently would God have allowed my baby to live?"

The chapters which follow go on to explore how the gospel in it's fullness can give true hope and comfort to those who have experienced a miscarriage. Topics such as God's sovereignty and God's purposes in suffering, as well as God's personal understanding of our suffering, bring truth to the core questions which often rise out of deep tragedy. Many Christians may have an understanding of the truths of Scripture and will do everything possible to cling to these truths when devastation hits. However, the pain of grief can at times be so incredibly bitter that the Word of God can seem empty and hollow in it's comfort. Jessalyn has done an excellent job of taking truth, providing it's full meaning, and driving it to the core of grief in a way that leaves the reader encouraged, comforted, and satisfied. The book then ends with a rich and biblically supported discussion on the eternal destiny of the unborn. The argument made by the author is distinctly different from many "theories" and frameworks which have been popular in past years. With that said this book caused me, an individual who did not previously believe in the eternal security of babies, to seriously evaluate my personal beliefs. This critical examination did not necessarily result from the Hutto's fabulous methods of persuasion but from a strong network of Scriptural support for her position. This book also includes prayers from Hutto for the reader which specifically touch the most painful aspects of miscarriage and remind the reader that she is not alone in her grief.

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"Tears are the inheritance of earth's children. . .Tears may, and must come; but if they gather in eyes that are constantly looking up to [God] and heaven, they will glisten with the brightness of the coming glory (pg 33)." - Susannah Spurgeon

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Positive Elements

Provides A New Understanding

Hutto has evidently been through great loss which can be seen through her own personal story. In addition, Hutto voices many of the common thoughts and struggles which captivate the minds of mothers who have miscarried. Often those thoughts and struggles are very dark and, when expressed, bring shaming or judgement from others who have not experienced miscarriage. Hutto does an excellent job of expressing these thoughts in a judge free manner while graciously directing the reader back to the truth of God's Word. Beautifully, portions of this book are also written directly to those who may be looking to help and support a grieving mother. Those who have not experienced a miscarriage personally will walk away from the reading of this book with a new understanding of the struggles and needs of their grieving friend. In addition, individuals who once did not know how to help will find that they have gleaned new tools with which they can provide gracious and wise hope from Scripture. The church body as a whole would be far better equipped as a place of healing if these tools were heeded and properly utilized.

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"Does this mean God doesn't care about our present happiness? Does he ignore our pain and anguish as he allows the loss of a precious baby? Does he only have the end result of holiness in view? On the contrary, as we saw in chapter three, Scripture testifies to a God who is constantly concerned with his people, a God who sees our pain (Psalm 56:8) and understands our struggles (Isaiah 53:3, Hebrews 4:15). He is not ambivalent about our pain, but vehemently despises evil and death. Yet God knows that, to the extent our experiences of joy in this life are disconnected from fellowship with him, they will be counterfeit and fleeting. Therefore, His chief desire for us is that all our happiness be ultimately grounded in the only genuine source there is: himself (pg 74)." - Jessalyn Hutto

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Provides A Biblically Solid Framework

Throughout the pages of this book the reader will not find fluffy female sentiments made from emotionally driven interpretations of Scripture. Rather, this book challenges the reader to look at miscarriage through the bigger picture of the gospel and uses Scripture as the only source of true hope. After reading this book the reader will no longer wonder if miscarriage is a senseless act which occurs because God has forgotten about her and her baby. Rather, she will see the beauty of God's grace in her fallenness, Christ's righteousness in her redemption, and the Divine Designer's ultimate glory in her brokenness. This book is a welcome relief as it does not downplay the intensity of grief but clearly defines God's purposes in the depth of that grief. Some of these purposes include: True salvation, A deeper communion with God, Greater fellowship with one another, etc.

"Negative" Elements

In reality there are very few negative elements that I found in this book. However, there are three specific warnings I would offer with this book. 

Candid Speech & Raw Emotions

Hutto speaks very candidly about her own experiences and covers a vast array of the nagging thoughts which are deeply rooted in the hearts of grieving mothers. Some women may have felt ashamed of these thoughts and have buried them deep in their hearts. This may be the first time that they have heard anyone else express the same thoughts of doubt or struggles of grief. For this reason this book should be read with care and should not be rushed through. The reader may find that she can only emotionally handle small portions of the book at any given time. Quick access to a box of kleenex is highly recommended during the reading of this book.

Too Short For It's Own Good

When a miscarriage mommy is experiencing deep grief it can cause her to feel that she is completely alone and isolated in the world. This book is like a welcome friend who can completely understand her sorrow. As a result, there is a level of disappointment when the book ends after just five chapters. While the wealth of wisdom within the book is invaluable, a miscarriage mommy may find that only a fraction of her struggle has been addressed. The author produces such a level of trust with the reader that one finds themselves craving Hutto's wisdom and counsel regarding many of the other struggles and questions which come with a miscarriage. As a result, I didn't want this book to end!

May Require Subsequent Readings

Depending upon the emotional stability of the reader this book may require more than one reading. This is due to the fact that there is such a vast amount of information and truth packed into it's petite binding. After reading this book through once my husband asked me if I found it helpful. I responded, "I think so." He asked what it was about to which I responded, "helpful stuff." Honestly, the content required too much processing for me to be able to clearly explain what I had read. A second reading of the book several weeks later left me with a far better grasp on the content. I believe it to be quite likely that I will read this book through again many more times in the future. I am sure that each reading will unearth something new for me to learn and apply.

In Conclusion

This is an excellent little book with great potential to equip the church for greater effectiveness and openness on such a taboo issue. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has experienced the agony of miscarriage as well as those who want to minister Christ's compassion to others. Miscarriage is a fierce spiritual battle which requires the effective use of God's Word and brothers and sisters in Christ who are willing to fight along side one another. This book is a useful weapon in that battle. Will you use it?

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"The key is not to escape the grief that miscarriage brings, but to drive our souls into the shelter of Jesus' gospel during that sorrow. In this way, as we remind ourselves over and over of the glory that is ours in Christ Jesus, the light of his gospel will eclipse the darkness of death that has visited our wombs. The suffering we face presently will be overshadowed by the glorious inheritance yet to come. This is a battle we fight through faith (pg 100)."- Jessalyn Hutto

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Give Away!!!

Are you impacted by the articles found on Joy In the Ashes? The goal of this blog is to provide hope and healing to women around the world. Will you join me in spreading the word? Share this book review on Facebook by clicking on the Facebook icon below. You can also share this review on Facebook by reposting the link found on my Facebook page. Then leave a comment on this blog or my Facebook page: Joy In The Ashes letting me know that you shared it. You will then be entered into the give away drawing for a free copy of Inheritance of Tears!!! The deadline for this drawing is October 29, 2015. The winner will be announced on October 30, 2015. Looking forward to hearing from you! 
(Drawing open to residents of the U.S.A. & Canada only at this time.)