Book Review - "I Will Carry You" by Angie Smith

There are some books you probably shouldn't read in public.  This is one of them.  Not because I was ashamed or embarassed to be seen reading it (quite the opposite, in fact), but because people who saw my face as I read probably wondered what was wrong with the woman reading the book with the baby on the cover. 

I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy tells the story of Audrey Caroline Smith, fourth daughter of Angie and Todd Smith (the latter being the lead singer of Selah).  Those of you familiar with the blog Bring The Rain already know this story, but this book discusses in even more heart-wrenching detail the journey the Smith go through after discovering through an 18 week ultrasound that sweet Audrey had condidtions which made her "incompatible with life."  Choosing to put their trust in the Great Physician, Angie and Todd carried Audrey until her birth on April 7th, 2008 when they got to spend two precious hours with their sweet baby girl.

Despite the fact that I bawled my eyes out for the duration of the novel (even though I already knew the story from Angie's blog), I found such hope in the pages that Angie has created.  It is so easy to trust in God when the sun is shining, when all is right with the world and life is good.  But God calls us to rely on him, to trust him, and especially to praise Him even in our darkest hours.  It is this aspect of the novel that makes it so inspiring and important.  The Smiths were in agony, hoping against all hope the the Creator would heal their Audrey.  Flawlessly incorporating Scripture, the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and her own blog posts, Angie Smith has produced something incredibly uplifting.  Her honesty, sincerity, and passion for the Lord flow out of the pages and directly into the reader's heart.

Thousands of people read Bring the Rain and it's impossible to know just how many have found Christ because of it.  Countless others have had their lives changed by Audrey.  I can only pray that scores more will find solace, hope, and peace that can only be found in Him through this book.  I highly recommend it to anyone, especially mothers, but particularly to those who have suffered the loss of a child.  5 Stars.

Side note - I referenced Angie's blog briefly in my post entitled No Exceptions.  If you are struggling with your position on abortion, I encourage you to revisit this post and then run, don't walk, to your nearest book store to purchase I Will Carry You.