Amy Grant: Song Writer, Author, Mom
I remember when I first became a Christian over 20 years ago.
My friends changed. My behavior changed, and my music changed.
My first Christian cassette tapes were Petra’s More Power to Ya and Amy Grant’s Age to Age. Amy’s music ministered to me through my teen years. It helped me draw close to God and encouraged me in my lonely journey when everyone else around me didn’t understand what my new faith was all about.
I followed Amy through the years, and then when I went to college and found Christian radio my music world opened up. Amy became one of the many other wonderful artists that helped shape my faith.
Many years later I heard about Amy’s marital split. I have to admit I was shocked and disappointed. I knew many Christian marriages calling it quits and coming from a broken home myself, I was judgemental of them all. My own marriage was less than perfect, and through the years we’ve struggled, really struggled, (still do.) So if me and my husband could stick it out, why couldn’t everyone else?
I saw most divorce as just plain selfishness. (Still do, though I understand their are real circumstances that are beyond a couple’s control, and I don’t advocate abuse or marital affairs in a marriage.) But coming from a broken home, I didn’t want to put my children through the pain and frustration I felt growing up. People may have looked at my life and seen a straight A student who played sports and wrote for the newspaper, who took jazz and had a social life, who didn’t get into trouble and was respectful. They might have thought that I was “okay,” but I wasn’t. I was miserable and lonely. I struggled with insecurities and rejection issues, and I still do today. I didn’t want that for my kids. And I was judgemental over anyone that put their personal happiness over their children’s.
I still feel the frustration as an adult, though the pain has diminished. I still have to decide who to spend the holidays with, then go running around to two different homes whenever I come into town, etc. I still have to watch what I say around one of my parents. Bottom line…most divorces are just not fair to the children.
So when I was approached about doing a blog tour for Amy’s book “Mosaic” I was hesitant. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know about Amy’s life, especially the later part. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear about her “happiness” when I still struggled to keep my relationship together. But curiosity got the best of me, and I wanted to give her another chance.
Deep down I know Amy is just like me, a sinner saved by Grace. And honestly, I have to applaud Amy for being so vulnerable and transparent (at least I’m hoping she will be.) I strive to be that way on my blog, and I don’t claim to be anywhere close to perfect. Quite the opposite, in fact.
So I agreed to do a book tour and will be reviewing and giving away 3 copies of her book! I’m looking forward to getting to know Amy a little better. If you’d like to win a copy of “Mosaic” leave a comment. Then come back and comment on the other posts on I write this week on her book. At the end of the week I will put all your comments into a hat and draw the lucky winners!
And just for fun, tell me why you want to win this book!
To purchase a copy of Mosaic, CLICK HERE.
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I, too, am a product of a broken home. So was my father. My brother and I have committed that our children will never suffer through that. They, too, are affected by my parent’s divorce in ways that I hadn’t imagined. It’s so hard not to be judgemental of others, but I know that in the Christian world Divorce is never entered into lightly. I know there is pain in both the breaking up of marriages and in disappointing God. I appreciate Amy’s openness, and I hope that her story will help others to heal in their own lives. Thanks for the post!
October 15th, 2007 at 7:27 amLike you and your reader above, I know divorce first hand–my parents’. It rocked our world, and you never get over it, although, with God’s grace you do move on. I haven’t read Amy Grant’s story, aand I’m sure this book is going to create a lot of buzz in Christian circles. Please put my name in your drawing. I’ll check in again for your future posts. Hugs, e_mom
October 15th, 2007 at 10:36 amMuch like e-mom, I’d like a book b/c of the interest it’s going to generate among my friends and family. I remember singing one of Amy’s songs at school in 5th grade with my friend, that was my first intro to her. In high school, I bought one of her albums and played it to death. But when she started selling beer at her Christian concerts I got *offended* and got rid of everything.
So she holds quite the curiosity for me. I’d love to be entered in your drawing, and am interested in hearing your review of her book!
October 15th, 2007 at 9:37 pmGina -
Please don’t include me in the drawing, I participated in the blog tour so already have a copy. I just wanted to tell you I’ve read the book and Amy does select carefully the vignettes she chooses but I think they were selected as much for their honesty as for anything else. There is a large variety from family memories as a chid to painful events to acknowledgements of areas where she is still growing as I believe we all are. She doesn’t pretend to be perfect in this book and I truly appreciate that. If you want to read my review you can go HERE
October 16th, 2007 at 10:28 amI am thrilled that she has writen out her life story. I look forward to reading it. She is such an awesome witness!
October 16th, 2007 at 11:12 amHugs…Cindy