Memoir

I came up with a title for my memoir a couple of months back--Out of the Ashes. My inspiration for the name came in the form of a song, Beauty Will Rise by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Below is the starting of the intro I have been writing. 

Introduction

In a search for myself, I decided to write this book. I originally named it “memoir” on my computer but soon found that name to be inadequate. It needed more substance. I thought extensively about a new name, and a song by Steven Curtis Chapman came to mind—Beauty Will Rise. One little line in it says “Out of these ashes, beauty will rise.” Although Steven’s reasons for writing that song are different than the ones I have for connecting to the song, I feel like the words of the song and even the meaning behind them are the reasons why I connect to it. Suffering of any kind, whether it is losing a child like in Steven’s case or losing a parent to suicide such as in my case, leaves ashes, but with God beauty can come out of it.

I found that although I have done things that have hurt others, there have been people in my life who have stuck by my side in spite of that. I hope my story is a blessing to you as you read it, and that you use it to bless others. There is much to be said about the power of sharing and its effects on others.

 Beauty Will Rise

Steven Curtis Chapman

It was the day the world went wrong
I screamed ‘til my voice was gone
And watched through the tears as everything
came crashing down
Slowly panic turns to pain
As we awake to what remains
and sift through the ashes that are left behind
But buried deep beneath all our broken dreams
we have this hope:

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
For we know, joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning, beauty will rise

So take another breath for now,
and let the tears come washing down,

and if you can't believe I will believe for you.
Cuz I have seen the signs of spring!
Just watch and see:

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
For we know, joy is coming in the morning...
in the morning…

I can hear it in the distance and it's not too far away.
It's the music and the laughter of a wedding and a feast.
I can almost feel the hand of God reaching for my face
to wipe the tears away, and say,
"It's time to make everything new. Make it all new"

This is our hope.
This is the promise.
This is our hope.
This is the promise.
That it would take our breath away
to see the beauty that's been made
out of the ashes...
out of the ashes...

It would take our breath away
to see the beauty that's been made
out of the ashes...

out of the ashes...

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise
and we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of this darkness... new life will shine
and we'll know the joy that’s coming in the morning...
in the morning...beauty will rise!

Oh, Beauty will rise
Oh, Beauty will rise
Oh, oh, oh, Beauty will rise
Oh, oh, oh, Beauty will rise
Oh, oh, oh, Beauty will rise