In 1999, Carol & Gene Kent watched their comfortable live take a horrible detour when their beloved son was arrested and eventually sentenced to life in prison without the ossibility of parole. Through years of emotional turmoil, the Kents have had to make a choice: to grasp the promises of Goed, or to rejet the one Source of hope that has always provided. ( )

book, be prepared to cry.

It is written by Carol Kent, famous author, international speaker and president of Speak Up Speaker Services, a Christian speakers' bureau, and founder and director of Speak Up with Confidence seminars, a ministry committed to helping Christians develop their communication skills, and most recently founder of the nonprofit oranization, Speak Up for Hope, which will benefit the families of incarcerated individuals.

In the fall of 1999, Carol and her husband, Gene, walking hand in hand in the glorious fall spendor of Michigan, were naming their blessing with grateful hearts when Carol said to her husband, "Does life get any better than this?" Life was perfect. Then a few short days later, life changed forever when a phone call brought the news that their only son, Jason had been arrested for MURDER. How could this happen? Jason Kent loved people, was commited to Christ, had a stellar record in high school, lettered in sports, was president of National Honor Society, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, mentored younger students, earned a black belt in karate and was a leader in church youth group. He never caused his parents any problems with inappropriate behavior, did not get caught up in drugs or alcohol. He had graduated from U.S. Naval Academy with high honors.

Carol, as a brilliant writer, takes you down her excruiatingly painful path of dealing with this new reality. She shares her journaling and also her husband's during this tragic, agonizingly painful time.

Through this painful experience she has learned a lot about God, about people who will come along side to support (she called them Stretcher-Bearers), and about herself. She has learned how to live like Abraham and be willing to "Lay Her Isaac Down" on the sacrifical altar.

Any mother's heart will break with the agony of her painful journey, but God does not waste any pain. (Made of think of the song that Beth Fox sings) He has graciously used Carol's pain to help others to "Lay Their Isaac's Down" no matter what the "Isaac" may be. (Financial, physical, emotional, relational). This is a truly inspirational book!

I give it 5 stars. Could not put it down.

http://www.speakupforhope.org/ ( )

Not what I expected. I was looking for a memoir or her telling the story of the horrible tragedy, instead it reads like most Christian self-help books. I was not looking for that. I cannot speak about the book itself as I did not finish reading it, once I realized it.