Posts Tagged ‘suicide’

A letter from a reader

letter

From a reader via email:

Dear Beth,

I came across your website after picking up a copy of Amish Garden which features one of your novellas.

I was reading about My Brother’s Keeper and do agree that touching on the subject of suicide is important. I find that in your section where you include the most common discussion question – “do people who commit suicide go to heaven” is incredibly insensitive to those who have lost someone to suicide.

 

Beth’s response:

First of all, let me say that I am very sorry for your loss.

Secondly, it’s certainly never my intention to cause pain for anyone through my books, words, or actions. I write the books hoping that the stories will land in the hands of someone who can benefit from them. And I truly believe that God guides my hand as I write in that effort.

I tried very hard to show multiple points of view and the many ways people react to such a tragedy. Sometimes, painful subjects bring forth positive results. I don’t think God ever wastes a hurt. I AM DEEPLY sorry for any pain that I might have caused you. It is my hope that people WILL talk about this sensitive subject, but in ways that are positive and healing.

Beth

God’s grace is what saves us

suicide-prevention-blog

Ephesians 2:8 says, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” (NLT)

So, to extrapolate on that verse, we are saved by God’s grace—not by our own deeds. In the same way that our good works don’t save us, our bad ones—or sins—cannot keep us from salvation.

In my latest book, Her Brother’s Keeper, Charlotte’s brother took his own life. Charlotte travels to Pennsylvania to investigate his life and troubles there. Why did his friends not get him the help he needed for his depression? Charlotte has many conversations with characters that knew her brother, trying to decide for herself if his sin of taking a life keeps Ethan from Heaven.

Her Brother’s Keeper will be released on July 7, 2015.