A Stroke of Heaven

Malori Rogers

Description

Through the author’s story of surviving a hemorrhagic stroke, this spirituality book demonstrates that it is possible to defeat impossible odds.

As Malori Rogers finally seemed close to what she had worked toward all her life—graduating college, getting married, and starting a physical therapy career—she experiences what she calls a “re-routing” after surviving a hemorrhagic stroke on the volleyball court. In A Stroke of Heaven, she narrates her story, sharing her perspective learned from God’s whispering: how to find him and his will by seeing life through a spiritual lens.

With the overarching theme of the importance of faith and family, Rogers provides a look into her experience, telling how living with a brain injury takes an immense amount of self-motivation and discipline every day. It’s something she never envisioned happening to her but she learned it’s possible to have contentment, drive, purpose, and motivation when her world was shattered.

A Stroke of Heaven offers Christ-centered insight: an aroma of thanksgiving and praise; an encouragement to everyone who faces the trials that come with life; and a transparent, spirit-filled, honest testimony to the heavenly father and his powerful nature.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Christian Living
• Inspirational
• Philosophie et théologie
• Espiritual
• Spiritual
• Christian

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 12 décembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664270077
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

A STROKE OF HEAVEN
 
Processing a Brain Injury and the Events Thereafter through a Spiritual Lens
 
 
 
 
 
MALORI ROGERS
 
 
 
 
 

 
Copyright © 2022 Malori Rogers.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7006-0 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7005-3 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7007-7 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022911551
 
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 10/12/2022
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Preface
 
1 Reflection
2 Firm Foundation
3 Cling to the Anchor
4 Onward to Deep Home Roots
5 Perspective
6 Trusting His Roots
7 Momentum: P = MV
8 Stepping Back to Reality
9 The Door
10 New Life
11 God Is So Good
12 Gotta Be Ready When He Calls My Name
13 A Mother’s Faithful Heart
14 Transitions Are Tough
15 All of Self, None of Thee … Less of Self, More of Thee … None of Self, All of Thee!
16 Perseverance
17 Endure
18 New Setting, Same Goal; Keep Going
19 The Drive to Be a Light
20 Being H(h)is Bride
21 Steadfast: Fixed in Direction; Firm in Purpose; Unwavering (Collins 2012)
22 Grit, Motivation, Faith
23 The Journey to Overcome
24 Don’t Give Up, Look Up
25 With God All Things Are Possible
26 Give Him the Stage Already
27 Give, More
28 Triumph in Tragedy: The Real Monster
29 Finish
 
Bibliography
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To God, who spared my life and gave me a message to share.
To my dad, whose faith can move mountains and whose encouragement never lets me quit.
To my mom, who selflessly and generously raised me, twice. You are an angel.
To my brother, whose perseverance, courage, and excellence are inspiring and whose humor keeps me afloat.
To my sister and best friend, whose joy and personality light up my life.
To Papa, who fought the good fight and finished the race and whose legacy continues to multiply.
To Nana, who lives as a selfless, fruitful, God-fearing saint and whose example is firmly imprinted in my heart.
To my aunts and uncles, who have maintained Godly traditions and established enlightening, Christlike principles within their families.
To my cousins, who have chosen to follow God and make faith their own, as part of our legacy in various forms.
To my childhood church home, Green Lawn, whose foundations and principles continue to nourish my faith.
To my friends, who have chosen to walk alongside me through thick and thin, honoring me far greater than I deserve.
To Dr. Kamath, whose perseverance and skill saved my life; God is real, and He is working in you every day.
To the hospital staff at Kell West, for never giving up the night of November 10, 2015.
To Dr. Welch, whose steady hands finished the race in my treatment and gave hope to my family.
To the hospital staff at Zale Lipshy, whose knowledge, service, and love blessed my family and nourished me back to life.
To Coach Lawrence, for believing in me, giving me a chance to play volleyball, and preparing me to be a leader.
To my LCU volleyball team, whose sacrificial faith was and is selfless, inspiring, and life giving; keep being fruitful.
To the professors, staff, and student body of LCU, whose prayerful hearts continually look to the Father.
To brain injury survivors and all those who fight invisible injuries, may you always live with hope; there is essential purpose in your pain.
To my children, McCrae and Roan, who gave me a new sense of purpose and taught me a new level of love that inspires me. You are the baton that has helped me finish the race.
To my husband, whose love and faithfulness (Proverbs 3:3) brought about the greatest version of myself. Thank you so much for believing in me. You inspired this book, and your daily sacrifices are not in vain.
To all prayer warriors, never give up.
PREFACE
I am so grateful to try to follow in the footsteps of the faith giants before me. My maternal grandpa, Papa, was a preacher, steadfast and sound in the truths of God’s Word. He had a passionate desire to make sure those around him knew God and were obedient to be baptized. He inspired others to share in the privilege of having a relationship with God and often practiced a sense of urgency to know Him and His Word in the Bible. My maternal grandma, Nana, pursued this calling alongside him so faithfully, till death did they part on November 12, 2017, all the while multiplying their fruitfulness through obedience to God’s Word. Nana continues to live in the fruitfulness they established together and shares it generously with others; she walks in the light every day. Fruitful might not be a strong enough word to describe her example and life. She gives, pours, and loves with her every living breath; she is a walking light who lives with her arms extended to all.
I wish I could ask Papa more about his preaching journey; all of his articles and notes left behind share his perspective very clearly, and he never wavered with the changing views of this fallen world. He planted a healthy fear of the Lord in all those who knew him in a way that was loving and gracious. When Papa passed away on a Sunday morning, after taking the Lord’s Supper, I remember a feeling of peace and accomplishment rushing over me. It was weird and unexpected because I ought to have felt broken, I thought. Of course, I was deeply saddened to not be present for such a profound and emotional moment; Tyler and I had moved away for his school at that time. All of our family had gathered around in worship and fellowship as Papa took his last breaths. That feeling of uncertainty of not being able to be there has inspired me to make him proud in a new way and strive to honor him differently. Papa and Nana’s marriage was the definition of faithfulness, and their deep Christian legacy maintained through the vessels of their roots convicts me to write this book.
I am particularly inspired by my parents’ examples—their faith in action through raising children, loving people, and serving the needy. They have maintained and nurtured rich family values in their home while showing generous love to any under their roof. They deserve more honor than I know how to express.
For Christmas one year, my dad gave me a book titled My Father’s Gift , by Sixtus Z. Atabong. Atabong writes about “purposeful charity.” He emphasizes the value of giving in the short term while empowering for the long term as well; that is what his dad did for him. He tells of ways his dad’s example inspired him to do great things while he strives to carry on his legacy.
In reflecting on the example and love of my parents, I can’t seem to find a way to honor them adequately. I don’t feel like I have the physical stamina or endurance to give, live, and love like I truly would like to. I pray this book is the small seed of faith that God can miraculously multiply to His doing. With the commandment in mind to “honor your father and mother,” I yearn deeply for the most powerful way to do so (Deuteronomy 5:16). My hope is that this book is a small package that continues to share the light to others that my family has so richly given me. I pray this book shares a heavenly perspective that inspires people to seek the eternal Father with a yearning that is never quenched or satisfied.
Parents have such a great opportunity to create humans, influence their perspective and worldview, plant seeds of faith, and maintain fruitful and powerful relationships with their children. That is what my parents have done—and more. When I thought about the story I wanted to share, I kept thinking about my parents—my superheroes. They willingly gave me life and continue to maintain the most generous, caring relationships with their three children and son-in-law.
I truly believe that I have grown up in the greatest home, in the richest country, with the greatest parents, the most incredible and talented siblings, and the most supportive grandparents. My aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends are so loving and are also heroic examples to me. I even have a husband! God has been good to me since the day I was born.
When I think about the individual God created in me, I sometimes search desperately inward, putting pressure on myself to live up to His rich blessings and try to follow