The Road to Closure
A Journey Through Forgiveness
by
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On this day Annie is peering down into a crib gazing at her very own newborn daughter whom she and her husband had just brought home from the hospital. She feels as if she has been born again. There is a new life, a new and different hope. In many ways she can now start over and maybe have a chance to right all the wrongs, or at least not allow her child to be subjected to the same burdens she was.
Simply soaking in the beauty of her new baby, Jane, is almost overwhelming for Annie. The child is so precious and innocent that Annie can literally see the perfect love radiating from her baby daughter as she sleeps. The smell of this newborn miracle fills the room and sets well on Annie’s heart. While standing next to baby Jane’s bed, Annie is enveloped in peace. Surely she is not worthy of such a gift, and yet there she is.
Despite all her joy Annie feels a tugging at her heart. Mixed in with the pleasure of this very special moment is fear and anxiety. How will she ever be able to give Jane all she needs and deserves? Her own parents missed the mark and in doing so had left her even less equipped to care for this beautiful baby than they were.
No child is born into a place that is free and clear of dysfunction. There is no such thing as a perfect parent or a perfect childhood. As Annie ponders the potential of her own failure as a parent she suddenly realizes that her parents were far from perfect, but they too must have had baggage that was imputed upon them for their own journey through life.
Annie’s parents must have gazed down on her and saw the same miracle of new life that she is looking at now, but their efforts fell short anyway. Annie now knows inside that despite her best efforts, she too will be less than perfect and she will fail Jane in one way or another, if not in many ways.
As a mother she is determined to promote love in her child’s life and is committed to doing her best to instill a spirit of trust and giving. She can only hope that her own child will one day be able to appreciate her efforts, understand that all people make mistakes, and forgive her in the areas in which she falls short.
Sometimes we have to be confronted with our own failures before we are willing to look at the failures of others in a different way. Annie now knows that in order to prevent her past from consuming her future, she will have to first forgive her parents and then begin her own healing process. That is what is best for her and for her precious baby.
Before Annie leaves Jane’s bedside she stops and prays that God will protect and guide her new baby onto the right paths and allow her life to proceed according to His will.
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About the Book
The Road to Closure is a carefully written book that addresses the issue of forgiveness in a unique way. The writer’s aim is to examine the benefits of forgiveness from a practical, spiritual and personal standpoint, in contrast to the consequences of a hardened heart. Each reader will find this book an enjoyable and useful learning experience, hopefully gaining a new perspective on forgiveness and discovering some tools to aid in the often difficult endeavor of forgiving.
From a practical perspective this book attempts to guide the reader in developing a more relevant understanding of "self", as well as the thoughts and actions of others, by addressing the Socratic questions of who, how, and why we hurt each other.
The theme around which this book is structured can be summarized in the saying, "The only way to closure is through forgiveness". There are a cast of supporting spiritual principles that are examined throughout the book such as: "It is through giving that we receive our greatest rewards", and "We get back what we send out".
Each chapter has at least one short story illustrating the specific spiritual/practical principle explored in that chapter. The short stories invite the reader to examine him or her self while viewing events in the lives of others. The book concludes by bringing together several of the short stories to reveal the healing of a dysfunctional and seemingly hopeless relationship between a man and a woman through the power of forgiveness.
About the Author
Ken Hartman is a teacher in the non-denominational School of the Bible at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo, CA. Mr. Hartman’s approach to teaching relies on conversational engagement with his students and an intense application of the Scriptures to daily life issues. Much of the material in this book was first developed in his weekly classes. Mr. Hartman does mentoring with individuals and in group settings. Mr. Hartman is continuing his education in Christian Counseling.
Karen Hartman is a well-known and highly respected member of her local church. She is a generous contributor of her personal time to her local church as well as the 23 church member association where she has volunteered as a teacher, clerk, and treasurer and chair on various committees. Recently Mrs. Hartman has been on a short-term assignment as a missionary with the International Commission.
The Hartmans have been married for 11 years. Their journey is chronicled in The Road to Closure, which takes them from a destructive and dysfunctional relationship to an open and honest couple, with a desire to share their experiences with others. This manuscript has risen to maturity through focused dialogues with each other.