The Life We Never Expected Book Review and Giveaway
I like to keep things positive and encouraging here, but the truth is that living with autism isn’t always roses and sunshine. We all know that parenting is a tough job that should be taken seriously and calls us to be our best. When you add special needs into it there are special challenges. To deny that would be dishonest and dishonoring to the unique path we’re walking as a family touched by autism. However, to try to explain that to others who don’t know what it’s like firsthand is a Herculean task. I’ve just finished reading the book The Life We Never Expected by Andrew and Rachel Wilson. This husband and wife team has written a book that does a beautifully vivid and accessible job of detailing the difficulties and the blessings of raising children with special needs, in particular autism.
The Wilsons share their own personal experience raising two children with autism. I laughed and cried along with their stories because there were so many times I said, “Yes, us too!” throughout the book. When you’re raising special needs children, it can feel lonely and overwhelming at times. There are few people who truly understand the everyday challenges you face — or the things that make you laugh because you recognize the lovable quirks your children have.
Even better than the shared experience I read in this book is the shared faith. When you come face to face with the truth that you cannot handle it all alone — and that you don’t have to and aren’t meant to — you fully surrender to Jesus and trust in His strength. It’s not always a pretty process, but it is beautiful. I have been broken by this process many times myself, but I wouldn’t trade my relationship with the Lord for anything.
I would highly recommend this book to all special needs parents, but beyond that, I would recommend this book to all of their friends and family. I wish I could buy it in bulk and distribute it to our family, friends, and acquaintances just to give them a glimpse of what our life is like and why our faith is the rock solid foundation on which we stand. Anyone can benefit from this book if they want to grow in their faith walk and live with compassion and hope.
About The Life We Never Expected
Sometimes life throws you a curveball.
Andrew and Rachel Wilson know what it means to live a life they never expected. As the parents of two children with special needs, their story mingles deep pain with deep joy in unexpected places. With raw honesty, they share about the challenges they face on a daily basis—all the while teaching what it means to weep, worship, wait, and hope in the Lord. Offering encouragement rooted in God’s Word, this book will help you cling to Jesus and fight for joy when faced with a life you never expected.
About the Authors
Andrew and Rachel Wilson are the authors of The Life We Never Expected: Hopeful Reflections on the Challenges of Parenting Children with Special Needs and have two children, Zeke and Anna. Andrew is the teaching pastor at King’s Church London and a columnist for Christianity Today.
Giveaway
I’m so excited about this giveaway because I know the winner will really be blessed by reading this book!
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
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