Wininger, Bill. Stacey: How does a parent keep going after the death of a child? Douglasville, Georgia: Royal Publications, 1998.
86 pages.
Rating: 
I’m still working through how I’ll handle reviewing more biographical works. This book is half biography and half counselling since it is written six months after a family has lost their youngest child—Stacey. Stacey died in tragic circumstances at age thirteen. This book contains the reflections of her dad, mum, siblings, and grandparents on their loss.
The book is short and simple. I read it in a few hours. It contains a presentation of the gospel as well as some helpful reflections on how to deal with such a tragedy. It is therefore a helpful tool for those who may be suffering a similar trial.
It is admirable that the author/s do not try to put on a mask and give pat answers. They are honest about their struggles and the difficulty of facing such a horrible situation. Their honesty makes this book useful.
This book unfortunately places a heavy emphasis on rewards and service, advising the grieving person to keep serving in between the times of open grieving as a means of coping. Understood properly, there is some value in this advice. Still, there is significant danger in just moving forward without taking time to face what happened. If you’re looking for sound counsel on this element of such a situation, this book is probably not the place to find it. But if you’re able to sift through some things and put things in a broader theological context, there is some rich and meaningful fellowship to be had with this grieving father.
In one chapter, Wininger quotes the commentator Matthew Henry on Psalm 126: “Weeping must not hinder sowing.” The way he draws this out, challenging the bereaved to see the tragedy as an opportunity to put a megaphone to their life message, is wonderful. Indeed, it is the stated goal of this book to do just that in his own tragic circumstances.
Grace to you.
Greg McPhearson
26 October, 2013 at 3:39 amMaybe you should take down your endorsements of books written by known child molesters. Just a thought…………
Bruce Gerencser
26 October, 2013 at 8:16 amI second Greg’s comment.
http://brucegerencser.net/2013/10/ifb-pastor-bill-wininger-outed-as-sexual-predator/
Jason Harris
26 October, 2013 at 10:24 pmThanks for the comments guys. I’m happy to keep this link and the comments up so that those who are interested can consider the allegations. If charges have been laid, documentation of such would be welcomed. In the mean time, I’m sorry to hear of these allegations and pray that this pastor will, if he is guilty, come to repentance, and that his victims, assuming the allegations are true, will find healing and justice.
I’m not sure a three-star review that’s full of caveats is quite an “endorsement.” This review is merely my take on the book. I don’t endorse his theology let alone his life as a whole.
If these allegations are true, I can only mourn the damage of sin and crime in his life and in the lives of his victims. And pray that in his life, and in the lives of his victims, that God will be made much of and sin will be made to look “exceeding sinful” and grace will shine brightly in his repentance/restoration and in the victim’s healing and pursuit of justice.
Amanda
14 December, 2013 at 11:00 amMr. Harris,
I wish you would look into the research done on pedophiles. There is little evidence showing they ever repent.
It is no wonder that Jesus said that whoever harms one of the little ones, it is better that a millstone was on their neck and they were cast into the sea.
Jason Harris
15 December, 2013 at 2:29 pmThanks for stopping in Amanda. I am, unfortunately, all too familiar with the statistics and dynamics of pedophilia. That said, I’ve also been blessed to see God’s grace at work in powerful ways in some who have been involved in pedophilia in the past. The cross, as Lewis said, is the great leveller.
That said, a quick browse around this site will demonstrate my unflinching commitment to protect the weak and pursue justice.
Grace to you.