Turn Over Any Stone: A Personal Journey Through the Mystery of Suffering and Faith

by Edna Hatlestad Hong

Excellent Book

109 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Carolyn Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blessed to be one of Edna's granddaughter's caregivers. What a ray of sunshine she brought into my life! The wonderful things that I got to see through her eyes enrich my life so very much. She was a blessing to all! I once had a copy of this book. But sadly I borrowed it to a friend and never got it back.

[Keith Dow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grandmother's eloquent reflection as she wrestles with emotions processing the daughter of her disabled granddaughter. A poignant book containing deep truths about the human condition and the ways we relate to one another.

[Jakki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the message but sometimes the book waxed too poetic for me. I will probably still read it again.

The dear grandma (author) wanting to protect her daughter from the pain of raising the disabled child she gave birth too. The author's obvious hurt she feels for her daughter as only a mother can feel and the added agony she feels over the loss of the dream grand child she wanted. Both mom and grandma learn valuable lessons about love and letting go. As the mother of a disabled child, I thought the story was beautiful.

[Richard Duncan]

Sadly, you'll have to get a used copy. It was written and published in 1970 on the occasion of the birth of Hong's profoundly disabled grand-daughter. If you are looking for real life honesty about suffering and a uniquely Christian worldview regarding it, you'll be glad you read this book. Hong is a brilliant, poetic prose writer who gives you a look into her troubled soul as she wrestled with God as to the meaning of pain. She writes, "I had a feeling that any painful problem, the front side of any question at which one stairs fixedly, has the same backside. Turn it over, and there one finds Christ. The frontsides of questions may be different. The backsides are always the same. 'Turn over any stone,' [says Jesus] 'and I am there.'"