The Page 69 Test: *A Heart's Journey to Forgiveness* by Terese Luikens #page69

 

 

They say if you want to really find a good book, go to page 69 (the middle and meat of the book) and you like it, it's definitely worth reading. For today's feature, I'm zooming in on page 69 of Terese Luikens' new memoir, A Heart's Journey to Forgiveness.

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

 

 

For Terese Luikens, a picture-perfect childhood it was not. Frequent cross country moves, an emotionally absent mother and an alcoholic father who ends his life by suicide when Terese is just thirteen years old. 

The sixth of seven children, Terese grew up in an unstable and chaotic household–invisible to her mom yet cherished by her father. 

This heartfelt memoir documents the chain reaction of a tumultuous family history. From her stormy childhood to the far-reaching effects of her father’s suicide, Terese shares her inspiring journey to escape the shame of her past, find healing and live, learn to trust, and discover faith in a real and personal God.  

A Heart’s Journey to Forgiveness is available at Amazon.

Soon the heavy metal door opened and Mr. Harr ushered us back inside. “Your mom said she’d meet you back at the car. Can you find your way there?”
“I know how to get us there,” Ann assured him.
Mr. Harr shook our hands again and said, “I’m sorry about your dad. He was a fine man.”
Waiting in the heat next to the car, I could not imagine what our next activity would be.
But as Mom and John approached the car, I heard her mention the mortuary. Why is she forcing us to do all of this?
Hodgman-Splain-Roberts Mortuary read the sign in front of the brick building. Though I’d been to my grandpa’s funeral at the Catholic church, I’d never gone inside a funeral home before. I trailed behind my family, filled with dread at what I might see.
“I’m sorry Mr. Roberts couldn’t be here,” said the tall, skinny man who greeted us. He wore a dark suit and pink tie. “He was called out for an emergency. I’m David, and I will take especially good care of you.”
Mom didn’t greet him with a hug, but with a handshake.
Corralling us into a little circle with his long, outstretched arms, he spoke just above a whisper. “First of all, I just want to extend to all of you my deepest sympathy for your loss.”
Then he broke the quiet spell and waltzed around the showroom, his overly long fingers pointing out the fine craftsmanship of the caskets on one side of the spacious room.
Why does this matter? It will be six feet underground and the person lying inside is dead.
Ella came up beside me and whispered in my ear, “I wonder what’s in the basement.”
“I don’t really want to know.”
“Want to go outside?”

 

What do you think? Would you keep reading?

 

 

Terese Luikens has been married for forty-four years to the same man, although she is on her third wedding ring, having lost one and worn out another. She lives in Sandpoint, Idaho, enjoys being mother to three grown sons and grandmother to her much-loved grandchildren. She is the author of A Heart’s Journey to Forgiveness, a Memoir of her inspiring journey of emotional healing from her father’s suicide. She facilitates retreats and workshops focusing on forgiveness, and publishes her own blog, Why Bother? 

You can visit her website at www.tereseluikens.com.