Title:
Dancing in the Minefields
By:
Maribeth Ditmars
A
CBM Book Review
10.0
out of 10.0 stars
Dancing
in the Minefields: One Woman’s Faith Journey through Child-loss, Addiction, and Adversity by Maribeth Ditmars reveals her personal journey of faith
through life’s most heart-wrenching of events. Rob and Maribeth were like any
other young couple starting a family. Maribeth had envisioned a perfect life
and a healthy family. Yet, when tragedy struck in the form of childhood leukemia in
their eldest son, Chris, life dramatically changed forever. Through the
minefields of childhood cancer they persevered. The battle was a life and death
struggle. Adversity took its toll on this family in many different forms,
namely alcoholism with Maribeth and her husband, which slowly eroded their
marriage. Then addiction became their daughter’s choice and eventually, her
master. In her poignant, touching, and candid testimony, Maribeth opens her
heart, offering faith and hope to those that have experienced child-loss and
dealt with addiction. In sharing this beautiful story, she hopes that through the storms of adversity others will see triumph through Jesus.
Despite
these trials, even in the midst of death, God was with this family. Maribeth openly
admits that before Chris’s diagnosis, being a Christian was only an obligation.
Her humor is revealed in her snappy quips that capture the essence of her
spiritual state. As such, her book reveals her progression through 12 step
programs and the precious faith that Chris displayed in his battle. Each
chapter begins with a powerful scripture verse that describes each phase of her struggle, truly
making one understand the truth of God’s Word. As she elaborates on the
timeline of their story, her writing speaks to the many parents, friends,
sisters, brothers, etc., that have grappled with these types of life storms.
She eloquently, yet matter of factly, offers her struggles and solutions regarding dependency on alcohol, child-loss, and marital stress.
As intimacy
with God is developed and transformation begins to bud, her book tells the
progress of going from faltering faith to a powerful faith that withstands the trials.
Dancing
in the Minefields is one of those books that will touch your mind, spirit and
heart, allowing faith and hope to come, despite death. For those that have lost
loved ones, her book offers practical tips on finding strength in God despite the tragedies of this fallen world. This book can also be used as a ministry
tool to give to others that are suffering through cancer, grief and addiction.
Keep in mind that this book speaks to readers to not give up, reach out to
others in their suffering, reach out to others in your own suffering and most
of all to remember that God can heal, save, and deliver. She points others to
the eternity of Heaven and helps those who have lost ones to remember that they
will see them again. I truly appreciate and love this book! You will too.
This
book comes highly recommended for all that have suffered through loss of
children, addiction, and/or grief.
You
may get your copy of Dancing in the Minefields at Amazon. Be sure to visit the
author at Maribeth Ditmars for more information about her books and ministry.