I just love books, but these days I find it hard to actually finish one. I have great ambitions to read and books piled everywhere but don't seem to finish many of them. However, I picked this book up while in Utah and finished it yesterday. It was an amazing example of someone with faith and courage against incredible odds. Stephanie was burned over 80% of her body in an airplane crash. I was moved to tears several times as she described her journey and inspired by her strength and patience. She has an incredible story.
A couple of my favorite quotes from her book:
"I have accepted myself in a world that does not accept me, because I have learned--and more than any of the lessons of my accident, this is the one I wish I could teach everybody--that our hearts matter most. Your heart matters most, so be gentler and more patient with yourself, and their hearts matter most, too, so be kinder and more compassionate to others. It's a beautiful heart, not a perfect body, that leads to a beautiful life."
"It has been a long journey, but I see this time in my life as the best part of my story. Not because I've overcome so much, but because I've learned so much and I wouldn't have been taught these valuable lessons any other way. So I don't feel bitter at all, I feel grateful. Now I face trials with a better understanding of who I am, and the strength that comes from knowing I've survived worse. My body was scarred and disfigured, but just the opposite happened to my heart. Today, my heart is triumphant, my body is strong, and my life is full of everyday blessings."
By the way, on April 3 she had a baby girl, Charlotte. However, she will continue to suffer daily for the rest of her life from the effects of the crash. Today she is currently recovering from yet another surgery to repair her burned body.
