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| Author Patty Smith Hall |
Patty, welcome to Overcoming With God. We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers.
Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?
Probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to overcome in my life is my battle with chronic pain. At twenty-three, I was attacked by a psychotic patient and told I would be in a wheelchair by the time I was forty, that having children would be an impossibility, that the career I had worked toward for years was over before it had even begun. That’s a lot to handle in your twenties, especially when you feel that God had led you down that path. At first, I fought the experts—I continued to work in nursing and even managed to have two daughters, though both were born extremely early. As I grew older and my back condition grew worse, my anger at God grew. How could He allow this to happen to me when I had always tried to follow His will? I couldn’t see it then that though He hated seeing me hurt, God had a bigger, more wonderful plan for me.
CFP: Patty, I'm so sorry you've had to cope with chronic pain. All of us on the OWG do the same and we'll lift you up in prayer.
What passages in the Bible have been most helpful to you in those times?
The verse that I recite to myself when the pain gets tough is Romans 8:28—And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to the will of God. Whether life is good or bad, God works things together for GOOD. So my pain, as hard as it is, refines me and is working toward good according to the will of God.
Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio? Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print?
My last two books with Love Inspired Historical, Hearts in Hiding and Hearts Rekindled were both released in large print.
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| Christmas Lessons Book 5 in Christmas Traditions Series |
In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?
The hero and heroine in Christmas Lessons, my latest release, deal with physical disabilities, mainly the effects of polio. My last LIH, Hearts Rekindled, is set in a home for physically and mentally disabled children in 1945 Georgia.
Question you’d like to ask readers:
What kind of Christmas traditions do you have in your family? In Christmas Lessons, Claire is in charge of the school’s annual Christmas project, supplying food and Christmas presents for families in need—something my mother and I did for many years when my girls were young.
Author bio: Patty Smith Hall has been making up stories to keep herself occupied since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. Now she’s thrilled to share her love of history and storytelling with everyone, including her husband of thirty one years, Danny; her beautiful and talented daughters, Jennifer and Carly, and her future son-in-law, Dan.
GIVEAWAY: We're giving away 3 copies of Patty's new Christmas Traditions ebook novella this week and a set of Books 1-5 by Cynthia Hickey, Niki Turner, CarrieFancett Pagels, and Darlene Franklin. Leave a comment on this interview and on reviews to enter.
Patty, I am delighted that you are on OWG today. What a tragic experience to have to go through! Thank you for sharing a bit about your journey with chronic pain and how the Lord has performed miracles the doctors said you would never accomplish. He is so faithful to comfort us in our weakness. I look forward to reading your Christmas novella!
ReplyDeleteAnne, one thing I've learned through all this is never underestimate God. Doctors will tell you the worst case scenario but God is in the business of working miracles. Thanks for dropping by!
DeletePatty, I am so sorry for the pain you have had to endure for these many years. Thank you for sharing and thank you for this giveaway.
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
Melanie, Thanks for dropping by!
DeleteThanks for visiting with us on the OWG blog, Patty, and sharing about what God is getting you through, with your pain. Praying for you! Enjoying the Christmas Traditions series with you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me, Carrie--and for including me in the wonderful series! I've enjoyed working with all of you--you've taught me so much!
DeleteOh, I just love Romans 8:28 too! What a beautiful promise from God! Not everything that happens to us is good but God can bring good from anything and everything even pain. I'm a firm believer that God doesn't waste any of our experiences, good or bad. Look at the stories He has created through you! Love you, my sister in Christ.
ReplyDeleteHey Girl! So glad you see you here today! Yes, I love Romans 8:28--it's been my life verse since high school though I didn't truly understand it until I grew in my faith. But isn't that how God is--growing us through our experiences to have a better understanding of His word? Love you too!
DeleteHi Patty. Thanks to GOD for giving you the children you were told you couldn't have. Only GOD knows what we can and can't do. He knows our future. Sorry for all of the pain. So many have that problem it seems. What would we do without GOD's help and caring. And, comforting us at these times.Would love to win your book. Thanks OWG for having Patty here as a guest. GOD bless you all. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you, Maxie!
DeletePATTY, thank you for being with us on OWG and for sharing your touching testimony. As Carrie mentioned, all of us here on OWG suffer from chronic pain and we know the meaning of "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." Because without Him we definitely couldn't do the things we do, but one day at the time He enables us. It isn't always easy, but His grace is sufficient!
ReplyDeleteDiana, His grace is sufficient indeed!
DeleteThanks for having me! I'm not one to dwell on the pain, mainly because it can pull you into a endless circle of pain/depression that's hard to break. But I love talking about what my Lord has done for me through this experience! He has been so good and so faithful in His love for me.
ReplyDeletedecorating the tree together
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
I love to decorate the tree too--My girls swear I have a story about every single ornament on our tree(which is absolutely true!) It takes hours to put it up!
DeleteThank you so much for sharing your testimony, Patty!!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to, and empathize with, your pain - it isn't easy to deal with pain on a daily basis. However, I firmly believe the message in Romans 8:28 - God DOES use every experience for good when we love Him and follow His plan for our lives. Prayer and a close relationship with Him and our Christian "sisters" always helps lighten our loads.
I loved "Christmas Lessons" - such a heart-warming story - and would love to read your other books!! Our family has many Christmas traditions - one of them is helping provide Christmas gifts for children of ladies in our church's prison ministry, and other needy families in the community and surrounding areas. However, we also contribute to mission and charity projects all year long.
Saying a prayer for your health and your writing, Patty!!
Shared post!!
Bonnie, I'm glad you liked my novella! Claire, the heroine in the story has made an appearance in all of my books with Love Inspired so of course, she needed her own happy ending!
DeleteThe Christmas project in Christmas Lessons is actually a tradition in our own family. Many years ago, I was visiting my daughters' school when I saw a young boy wearing his Halloween costume the week of Thanksgiving. I learned later he wore the costume most days because he didn't have anything else to wear. That was the beginning of Deck the Halls, a holiday program that provide food, clothing, coats and Christmas presents for the needy children in our school district. The year before I moved across country, the project provided Christmas for over 2000 kids in our county.
Thanks for sharing Patty. We are so blessed to have a God who loves us and cares about everything we go through. Without Him we would be a total mess! Our Christmas tradition, now that our kids are adults & some have children of their own, is to gather together to share gifts on Christmas Eve (leaving Christmas morning for them to spend with their own children. Of course, anytime we have an opportunity to spend with our grandchildren is a special time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity to win your book & some Christmas novella's--it would be an honor to win.
Vicki
Vicki, I'm so looking forward to grandchildren! Right now, we're trying to plan a wedding for next year so maybe in a year or two, I'll have a little one to spoil at Christmas. Thanks for coming by!
DeleteWelcome to OWG, PATTY, and thank you so much for sharing your testimony with everyone. I pray God uses it to bring encouragement and hope to many! I love that scripture verse you shared that continues to give you strength to cope. It sure has been true in my life also, with Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia. Throughout this journey He has continued to refine me and has brought me down a path I never imagined! We are blessed indeed to have His unconditional and unfathomable love in our lives! God bless, and I'm looking forward to reading your new novella!!
ReplyDelete