Written by Margaret
Kazmierczak
This book deserves more than 5 stars as it is
deeply embedded in the mystery of God's love. The author needs to be
congratulated on her courage to write this painful book as her journey in
revealing her heart and pain has been relived in every letter that she has
typed.
It would have been human to have given up after
all Dana Goodman has been through, but her strength is clearly grounded in the
God of Love. Her struggles just seemed to bombard her, her heart being ripped
apart through loss. But her amazing gift to keep going is echoed in this
statement:
"In the broken moments of our lives, seeds
are planted in the very rich soil of God's kindness and when those seeds are
showered with his love they bear much fruit and multiply. Just when I thought
nothing could grow in the barren waste of broken dreams, seeds began to grow
into beautiful plants of love and hope."
However, this hope did not just come to the
author, she had to endure many years of excruciating pain and suffering. She
truly understands the agony of Calvary but above all has witnessed the
Resurrection that comes after death. Her faith is proof of this. A lot people
would trash God and leave Him, bitter and tormented by the challenges given to
them. But Dana Goodman held on with her fingernails to hope. The support of her
family and Christian friends too gave her the glimpse that not all was lost.
Greatness and healing could come out of the ashes.
This book is truly inspirational and a must read
for those that have suffered loss, especially the loss of a child. I confess I
cried often, but tears are the ointment of God's healing balm.
I highly recommend this amazing account of an
exceptional woman's journey to hell and back. Dana Goodman stayed focused on
God, at times tentatively, understandably so, but none the less, still
communicating with Love even though He seemed at times silent and distant.
Be warned this book will change you.
Written in a conversational, endearing manner, this book is like
sitting down with a friend over tea as she shares some of the most vulnerable
parts of her life. You will laugh, cry, be enlightened on several levels, and
be inspired to develop a closer walk with God. "In The Cleft" will
help you see how you can find hope in the hard times and light at the end of
the tunnel.
A
beautiful read. Sad, funny, informative, The talented author writes
intelligently and simply, making 'In the Cleft' such a wonderful read. The book
helps readers' to work through and understand the sad and hard times that we
all face at some time during our lives. Dana Goodman's courage in writing this
wonderful story will be an inspiration to anyone who reads it. A beautiful
writer!
I read this within 24 hours and could not put it down. I cried
most of the way through it, as expected; but also laughed out loud and smiled
as Dana recounts the story of what she and her family went through during the
illness and death of her first husband, son, mother-in-law and illness of her
current husband. This is a story of survival and faith. The struggles and
questions a mother must ask and worry about as well as the long answer to
everyone's question of "how are you?" The memories I have of Dana's
adventurous family and their individual mannerisms are clear as day in her
writing. The story of her life is amazing and flows like a wave you know will
thrill you (this family is full of daredevils!) but also take you along, almost
to the point of no return. I sincerely appreciate how open Dana is sharing her
feelings on making supremely hard decisions as a wife and mom. And how she
carries on. This book is extremely important in helping people understand how
Dana's faith in God was tested and how she's come to understand the path she
walks with Him. It is important to understand how families can go on when
tragic things happen. Dana is a wonderful wordsmith and this book is a treasure
to read.
In
the Cleft: Joy Comes in the Mourning is breathtaking. Dana's writing is honest
and an authentic witness to the messiness of grief and loss. Her voice draws
the reader into deep places of personal pain and journey's to places of unexpected
joy.
By Robin-Rae Russo
I love this book. I couldn't put it down. Such amazing strength
during a horrific time. Dana inspires me with her faith and ability to
persevere through a mother's worst nightmare.
Rhonda Wright
Poignant, overwhelming and heart wrenching at the same time as
showing hope and grace. The author's bravery in exposing her inner most being
and feelings will touch the lives of many. Readers will be comforted in knowing
that they are not alone in their suffering and sorrow.
Tracey Siegler
A beautiful and eloquently told story of hope after tragedy. Dana
describes to her readers in her own way how she copes with her challenges and
difficult losses she is faced with. Her heartbreaking story will have you
crying, will make you laugh aswell as inspire. Her strength and courage is
something to be admired for. A beautiful family - a truely amazing women.
Saige Michel
This is such a fantastic book and written beautifully! You will
not be able to put it down after you read the first few pages. It will have you
laughing out loud during some parts and crying at others. Overall "In the
Cleft: Joy Comes In the Mourning" is absolutely impeccable and I would
recommend it to everyone!
Mary Kenyon
Author Dana Goodman writes with blunt, and
sometimes gut-wrenching, honesty as she relates her crisis of faith when she
lost a husband, a son, and a mother-in-law to cancer. And yet her beautiful
words in finding her way back to God in the midst of sorrow can give us all
hope. Reading her story, I was wrenched back to 2013, the year I lost my
grandson, and I got an intimate peek into what my daughter must have
experienced as well as the mother of a dying child
Hetty
Laidlaw
I loved the book and couldn't put it down.I
too cried throughout the book. It is a book about love, faith, honesty and
pain, but never giving up hope. Thank you Dana for sharing so honest about your
journey and may this book help those who have a similar journey to walk, but
also be a guideline for those who are a bystander. The reason why I only gave
it 4 stars is the size of the book. I love to read in bed and it was a little
bit to big, for me, to hold.
By Goldie
I just finished this amazing book this afternoon. I'm not sure
how an author can write a book and book that is so heart-wrenching and
uplifting at the same time but Dana has accomplished this. This was a book that
once started was nearly impossible to put down. I read it with tears in my eyes
and peace in my heart. This book will be an amazing resource not only for those
who have lost a loved one but also for those who are supporting them.
Ron Dart, Professor of Philosophy and Politics at the University
of the Fraser Valley
I received your book a day ago----read the missive in a single
sitting--was charmed and entranced, enthralled and captured by the poignant and
evocative insights--- it's a burnished gold of a book---a real beauty---tragedy
and hope, in an honest and raw way, jostling wisely and judiciously in your
vulnerable soul--take heart---your well told and painful journey will bring
healing and restore life to many---thanks for the sacrament and chalice of
eternity so generously shared.
Xulon Press
"The author is a talented writer, who creates beautiful, sweeping images
that carry the reader smoothly through what is, in truth, a bumpy journey.
The author describes her fear, sadness and anger with pinpoint accuracy,
but stops to thrill readers with pictures, conversations and scenes that
rejoice in the beauty of everyday life."
Pastor Andrew Piklyk of Bible Truth Church
Readers will be blessed with Dana's vulnerability. For those in the
valley, In the Cleft: Joy Comes in the Mourning, will bring restored
hope. Her writing will inspire you to dream again. This book is an
awakening to Christ's incredible grace and a credit to the author's
faith. Once you pick up this book, you will find it very difficult to put
down.
