Chronic Illness: Walking by Faith

It's book release day!

I wrote a book! It’s a bit hard to believe, but Chronic Illness: Walking by Faith releases today. I feel exited. A little nervous. Very grateful. I’m hopeful it will find its way into the hands of many people – both people who live with chronic illness and those who do not. 

I truly hope you will buy it and read it. You can find it in a variety of places, including Amazon and Westminster Bookstore.

It feels a bit strange to release a book right now. So many people are struggling in so many different ways. Personally, I feel tired. Tired because of the pandemic and tired because of living with chronic illness. 

For many people, chronic illness has been made more complicated by the stay at home orders. I haven’t seen my physical therapist in almost two months and this is a huge problem. So many people I know haven’t been able to get the medical treatments they need during this time. Doctors appointments and surgeries have been cancelled. Medications are out of stock. Stress, anxiety, and depression are on the rise.

Why am I telling you this? My book releases today, and perhaps I should be focused solely on the fact that this is a happy occasion. It really is happy, and I really am excited. 

I’m also reminded that chronic illness doesn’t stop for book releases, milestones, or happy occasions. It doesn’t stop for pandemics, or anything else for that matter. I’m tired. I only know how to be honest. And the truth is that I am both excited and exhausted. Hopeful and a bit worn out.

Last week I skimmed through the words I wrote for this book many months ago. Many of them I needed to be reminded of for myself. Words reminding me that I’m not alone in my illness and that I can step back from striving and rest in grace. I’m always coming back to the truth that our worth does not rest in our productivity, and I think we need that message now more than ever. 

If you don’t live with chronic illness, this book is for you as well. Many of the truths in this book are applicable to suffering of all kinds, and I think it will also show you how to better care for people in your life who struggle in this way.

Once you finish reading, would you consider doing me a favor? Consider buying a copy for someone in your life who lives with illness. Gift it to them along with a note that lets them know one way you understand them better after reading this book. It will mean more to them than you can ever know. 

Thank you so much for all of your support! It’s a happy, tired book launch day, and I’m off to celebrate.

Esther