Author Julie Fillinger says, “As long as there’s pain and suffering in the world, there’s a need for us to tell our stories, and this is mine. ” In Courage to Live Julie shares the raw, honest story of her survival after the death of her oldest son.

She describes her grief journey during which she discovered joy and sorrow can coexist and God’s grace is sufficient. She shares practical ways she managed her grief, and discusses what others did and did not do to help during her journey.

God’s plan for living eternally is her “not so secret” secret for survival. Julie’s wisdom and faith inspire courage and endurance through suffering, so you emerge stronger than you imagined, with lasting, sustaining Hope.

What others say about this book:In his classic work The Screwtape Letters, C. S.

Lewis said that “…courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. ” In the pages of this beautifully written book saturated in a faith refined by fire, Julie Fillinger models what courage in the face of trauma looks like.

You will discover where the roots of courage are planted, and you will see how one can maintain hope for the long haul of life, whatever twists and turns you may face. As you read her story, as you listen in on her process of grief and recovery, you will be accompanied by a wise, vulnerable and trustworthy guide.

I was deeply impacted by this book, and believe you will be, as well. Jeff Crosby, author of The Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of Our HeartsIt takes courage to be a participant rather than an observer of life.

In this riveting account, Julie details her lowest valley through the shadows and the step-by-step process of embracing life while experiencing incredible pain and loss. Chris Fabry, author and radio hostLosing a child is devastating and heartbreaking.

The grief is so intense that no words describe the mourning that goes on and on without relief. Breathing is difficult and thinking is nearly impossible.

For those whose child took an early journey home, author Julie Fillinger understands how it feels to say goodbye too soon. In Courage To Live, this mother recounts the loss that forever altered her life, her journey through grief to grace, and the life-giving hope found in Jesus Christ.

PeggySue Wells, bestselling author of 40 books including: The Patent, Homeless for the Holidays, and The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can MakeNew authors are often encouraged to “write what you know. ” In Courage to Live, author Julie Fillinger writes candidly on a topic no parent wishes to experience - the loss of a child.

With both tenderness and full transparency, Julie shares the story of the life and death of her teenage son, Nicholas, and the ways both painful and slow that she has learned to live with his loss. Though deep grief has been her uninvited companion on the journey, Julie invites others to walk with her through suffering as she offers faith-infused hope and practical help to others navigating this path.

Maggie Wallem Rowe, author of This Life We ShareAbout the AuthorBorn and raised in Columbus, Ohio, I lived a good life. I enjoyed college, started my nursing career, got married and had children.

The unimaginable event that devastated my world occurred when my beloved son Nicholas died at only 16. By God’s grace, I am not only surviving, but also learning how to really live again.

Now my mission is to minister and instill courage and hope into people who are hurting, and to help them realize they are stronger than they ever thought possible. .