When You Can't Say "I Forgive You": Breaking the Bonds of Anger and Hurt - Softcover

Ketterman, Grace; Hazard, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1576830373 ISBN 13: 9781576830376

Publisher: NavPress, 2000

Synopsis

When You Can’t Say “I Forgive You” walks you step-by-step along the path of complete forgiveness. Through the authors’ gentle approach and compelling stories, you will discover the power to make it through the process of forgiveness―past the vulnerability, pain, and anger―toward a true change of heart.

About this title

About the Author

GRACE H. KETTERMAN, M.D. is a frequent speaker to a wide variety of audiences including Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, AT&T Long Lines, United Way and Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Chicago. She has authored close to twenty books including WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE SCREAMING (Harold Shaw). She currently has her own private medical practice at the Center for Behavioral Development in Kansas City, Missouri. She is also an adjunct professor at the Nazarene Theological Seminary. Grace lives in Kansas City, Missouri.

DAVID HAZARD is a best-selling, award-winning author and the founder of The New Nature Institute, and organization that promotes the study of Christian spiritual practices as they relate to physical health and wellness. He is the editor of the classic devotional series, Rekindling the Inner Fire (Bethany House). David lives with his family in Virginia.

From the Back Cover

Three of the hardest words to utter in any language: "I forgive you." We say we forgive, but in the dark of the night, the pain surfaces. We can't seem to erase it from our memories. We want those who hurt us to suffer as we have. Must we be eaten up by pain for the rest of our lives? Is forgiveness just a nice dream? No healthy mind can totally forget a wound that leaves ugly scars, but to remember with a bitter heart is a sign of only partial forgiveness. When You Can't Say "I Forgive You" walks you step-by-step along the path of complete forgiveness: a forgiveness that admits pain, attempts to understand the other person, and finally, lets go. Licensed physician Grace Ketterman validates this counsel by sharing her own shocking story of divorce, shame, and reconciliation. Through her gentle approach, compelling stories, and David's teaching you will discover the power to make it through the process of forgiveness--past the vulnerability, pain, and anger--toward a true change of heart.

Reviews

More than a dozen titles have been published in the last year on forgiveness. What does true forgiveness mean, and how does one achieve it? These two titles attempt to answer those questions and more. Each, in fact, goes so far as to claim that forgiveness is important not only for spiritual but also medical reasons (it lowers blood pressure, for example). The Unburdened Heart focuses on Nelson's five-step formula for complete forgiveness: awareness, validation, compassion, humility, and self-forgiveness. The former professional basketball player and sports writer also considers whether to reconcile with the perpetrator or say goodbye and whether one can still forgive if the apology is insincere. At the core of her compelling narrative is her experience of being sexually abused by her high school coach; at the time, she very much believed his story that they were having an adult affair. While researching a previous book, The Stronger Women Get, the More Men Love Football (LJ 5/15/94), she could not get other coaches to comment on abuse, but here she reconnects with her old coach after 20 years to start the forgiving process. Written in straightforward workbook style, Nelson's text ends with three pages of group discussion questions. Ketterman and Hazard, a speaker/ psychiatrist and an author, respectively, write in a more folksy, storytelling style, but their point is no less convincing. Because they take a Christian stance, their book may be especially helpful to religious counselors; the chapter "A Personal Reckoning" poignantly illustrates what forgiveness means. Like Nelson, Ketterman has a deep personal connection to her topic: she had already divorced her successful husband when he called to tell her that he had been arrested and needed her help. They worked through their problems and remarried after he was released from prison. Both of these titles use forceful personal vignettes to show the process of working through events to exoneration. Nelson's book is better arranged for group work, while Ketterman and Hazard's is more amenable to an individual read.DLisa Wise, Broome Cty. P.L., Binghamton, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: NavPress
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1576830373
• ISBN 13: 9781576830376
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208