Book Review: Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn

I have always been a big fan of Steven Curtis Chapman. His music, in my opinion, is some of the best ever written. I have admired him and his family for years. I remember how crushed I was when I heard about the accident where their youngest daughter, Maria, died. I remember praying, "Oh, God, what an awful thing for a family to be going through. Please comfort them right now and help them to know Your presence in their lives. And please send others to them to give them encouragement and strength as they go through this horrible time."

I wanted to review this book so I could let others know about this wonderful family and what God has been doing in and through their lives. I'm so grateful to Revell for giving me Choosing to SEE to read and review.

Mary Beth Chapman, wife of Steven, is the author of this book. She shares how she met Steven (some funny moments there!) and some stories of their first several years of marriage, where they had three children before adopting three from China. Then she shares their adoption experiences, as well as how they created an adoption and orphan care ministry called Show Hope, named after their Chinese daughter, Shaohannah.

In the rest of the book, Mary Beth tells us about the accident and how God has taught her about trusting Him and how He has strengthened her and the rest of the family, giving them encouragement through friends and others as they look to Him as their Comforter. I like Mary Beth's honesty as she reveals her weaknesses and doubts that she has struggled with throughout this whole ordeal.

I would recommend Choosing to SEE to anyone who has lost a child to death, or anyone who knows someone who has experienced the death of a child. I think it is also beneficial for anyone who is considering adoption. Or, if you just want to read a sad, but funny and uplifting account of one woman's journey of faith, I think you would like it, too.

I give Choosing to SEE 4 1/2 out of 5 stars!


Here is Mary Beth talking about her new book:



For an even better review of this wonderful, inspiring book, read what Carrie has written at her blog, Reading to Know.

Available September 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

(I received this book from Revell Books for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)