The Gift of Great Sorrow

Book excerpt: How do you move forward when your life is unexpectedly shattered by devastating news? You can sink into despair, or this temporary devastation can become a profound journey where the choices you make bring more meaning, purpose, and promise than you could ever have imagined. The Gift of Great Sorrow by Louise Braün Frank is the story of Louise's 25-year journey with her children Joshua and Leah who were diagnosed at the age of six with a progressive terminal disease which eventually claimed their young lives. As she walked through the grief of their daily losses, instead of becoming discouraged and overwhelmed, she chose to embody her father's advice, "Watch them live, don't watch them die." In The Gift of Great Sorrow, we experience a story that moves beyond tragedy to triumph -- not because the tragedy changes, but because of the transforming power of perspective, love, and courage.