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Cherie Burbach

writer, artist, poet

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Home | Faith | 15 Years and Lessons About Grace

15 Years and Lessons About Grace

October 7, 2013 Leave a Comment

Fifteen years ago this week, I was sitting in my brand new apartment with a content and happy feeling. I had weathered some rough years, both as a kid and young adult, but things had begun to change. I had already made steps that would set a course for a new life.

Fifteen years ago I had spent the weekend moving to a new apartment which I loved. It had a separate entrance, almost like a townhouse, and washer and dryer in my apartment (which was the first time I had such a luxury.) The place was small but so perfect for me.

I had spent the weekend moving in, getting settled, and on Sunday night pulled out a book and sat in a big, comfy blue chair that was positioned directly under a window. I started to read, but closed my eyes to feel the breeze on my face, and just as I did, the phone rang.

My world changed with that phone call.

I’ve talked about my dad, my upbringing, my childhood, many times over the years. Why I talk about my past is because I want to give people hope. (Here’s more about why.) I don’t do it because I need people to feel sorry for me or because I’m still in that sad place.

But on weeks like this, on the fifteen anniversary of my father’s death, I think about him. His death, and the way he chose to live his life and then end it, breaks my heart. It taught me about loving someone abusive, someone that struggled with demons and addiction, and about how other people respond.

I’ve written poems and articles about alcoholism and what it does to a family. In my latest poetry book, Yes, You, I wrote a poem called “The Suicides” that starts:

They break our hearts

with their inability to see

the beauty in life,

the small moments

that catch your breath

remind you what God created,

and make you stop long enough

to pull yourself from

the dark abyss of hopelessness

and press on.

I’d like to think that God has taken care of my father. I don’t want to argue about what really happens when someone you love takes their own life, but I do know that my father was a troubled man even without the alcohol. I’d like to think that God, who gave me a strong spirit and pulled me up and out of that world, has my father somewhere safe, where He is teaching him lessons about grace.

Tags: abuse, alcoholism, christian, grace, the suicides Categories: Faith, The Walk

About the Author

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Cherie Burbach is a full time artist and writer. Her art prints, originals, and functional art pieces are available in artsy stores and galleries through the country and here at her site. Join her for Painting the Psalms. She is the author of over fifteen books, which vary from nonfiction to poetry to kid's books. Just for fun she created a family card game called Cupcake Commotion. Her first novel is The Space Between Dreaming.

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Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers’ Favorite

The Space Between Dreaming is a moving novel written with warmth and heart and which contains valuable wisdom. I loved that...
Cherie Burbach
2020-02-16T15:00:57-06:00
The Space Between Dreaming is a moving novel written with warmth and heart and which contains valuable wisdom. I loved that the work tackles difficult topics about childlessness, childhood trauma, and betrayal by friends with sensitivity. It tenderly captures the social and emotional toll of being childless. I loved the main characters and found them to be realistic and engaging. The work masterfully explores the themes of friendships and relationships, drawing important lessons that can be applied in real life. The inclusion of art and the process of painting also enhance the story. Cherie Burbach's unforgettable novel will resonate with readers for its applicable themes and compelling characters. Fans of women's novels will love it.
https://www.cherieburbach.com/testimonials/lisa-l/
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Cherie Burbach's writing is surprisingly vivid, this being her debut attempt. She can take you inside the character's mind within...
Cherie Burbach
2020-02-16T14:48:24-06:00
Cherie Burbach's writing is surprisingly vivid, this being her debut attempt. She can take you inside the character's mind within a span of words, all the things they're struggling with put bare before you. The prose isn't flowery, but gentle enough to nudge you into relating your traumas too, and heal as the characters do.
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Loved learning more about art, and the community surrounding the people in the book. Couldn't wait for the next chapter...
Cherie Burbach
2020-02-16T14:49:12-06:00
Loved learning more about art, and the community surrounding the people in the book. Couldn't wait for the next chapter and following the women in this story. I am hoping the author has a second book in mind, to continue the journey of Jane and Grace. I would recommend this to book clubs, so they could meet and discuss what they read and what they think will happen next.
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Julie, Amazon Reviewer

A beautifully written story about the lives of two very interesting women who come together and form a life long...
Cherie Burbach
2020-02-16T14:50:50-06:00
A beautifully written story about the lives of two very interesting women who come together and form a life long bond. I love how this book is written. I found myself placed in the story like I was an innocent bystander watching each moment unfold and learning more about art than I ever thought possible. As the book ended, I found myself wanting more. My hope is that there is a 2nd book in the works so I can continue watching the friendships unfold and the lives of the main characters continue to grow!
https://www.cherieburbach.com/testimonials/shelley-w/

Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers’ Favorite

The Space Between Dreaming is a moving novel written with warmth and heart and which contains valuable wisdom. I loved that...
Cherie Burbach
2020-02-16T15:00:57-06:00
The Space Between Dreaming is a moving novel written with warmth and heart and which contains valuable wisdom. I loved that the work tackles difficult topics about childlessness, childhood trauma, and betrayal by friends with sensitivity. It tenderly captures the social and emotional toll of being childless. I loved the main characters and found them to be realistic and engaging. The work masterfully explores the themes of friendships and relationships, drawing important lessons that can be applied in real life. The inclusion of art and the process of painting also enhance the story. Cherie Burbach's unforgettable novel will resonate with readers for its applicable themes and compelling characters. Fans of women's novels will love it.
https://www.cherieburbach.com/testimonials/lisa-l/

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