IN HIS IMAGE: A Pattern to Live By

Does a turbulent beginning denote a triumphant ending? I think answering this question depends on how you see your own story. Some caterpillars live four years before they're able to form their cocoons and breakout as a beautiful butterfly. Without tragedy and heartbreak, I would've never been born. My mother and father lost 6 children before I was ever a thought. My mother spent 84 months (7 years) pregnant. Of 12 pregnancies, 6 children survived, and their only adopted child died at the age of 11. I was my parent's 10th pregnancy (born December 10th). Had the previous 9 survived, I doubt I'd be here.What motivated this book are the parallel lines of distinction I've drawn between my dad's life and mine. This book was released on my 57th birthday, which obviously is significant because of when my dad passed. When I was born, my dad was 35 years old. He passed away 33 years ago. I was 33 when my oldest son Jarrett was born, and 35 when Jadden came along. I was 23 when my dad passed. My sons are currently 22 and 24 years old. I lost my dad when he was 57. Today (book release day) I'm 57. To be clear, I intend to live many many more years, but I couldn't ignore the relationship of the numbers. I believe God used these parallels to nudge me to tell the rich story about my father.