See How Broken People Can Be God's Instruments of Spiritual Healing in Chuck Miceli's New Book, Wounded Angels
In the midst of suffering, it can be difficult to believe or trust in an all-loving God watching over everyone. Chuck Miceli's latest book, Wounded Angels, reminds readers of God's promise to never abandon humanity; that He can bring healing and hope even out of the wounds life inflicts on us and provide hope and a future in the process.
HARTFORD, Conn., Dec. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Wounded Angels by Chuck Miceli tells the story of Maureen Bower, a woman from a family of German descent living in New York City in the early 1900s. Early in her childhood, when her sister was born, she was burdened by worries of her parents no longer loving her. When the Great Depression and the cultural forces leading up to World War II resulted to her father's business going bankrupt and his eventual suicide, her fears worsened. Maureen develops a deep fear of abandonment, which manifests in different parts of her life and causes her to build emotional walls to keep others from getting close to her.
Maureen dreads developing strong bonds with people until she meets and falls in love with Frank Russo. Their romance and marriage, however, are tested when Frank is drafted in the military. She and her best friend, June, become war brides and wait for the men they love to come back, but only Frank returns alive. June cuts Maureen off from her life and it will be many decades before the two reunite and reconcile. This sudden separation only aggravates Maureen's abandonment issues.
Maureen remembers feeling anxious about giving birth to Megan, her second child, until her mother's comment reassures her. "I took in a deep breath and, letting it out again, felt my anxiety exit. At the same time, I thought back to the open windows in my life: on the day my sister was born, on the night my father died, and the day after my best friend walked out of my life. I realized that deep within me, my own fear of abandonment still lingered."
Frank's sudden death after over fifty years of marriage sends Maureen into despair and makes her question God's presence in her life. Those who love her most are powerless to help, but enter Doris Cantrell, a crass, uncontrollable social misfit who is—in her own way—as damaged as Maureen. Neither woman has the energy or inclination to save anyone, but their very wounds become the key to supporting and healing each other. Maureen realizes God has always been there for her through her suffering and has plans to give her hope for the future and another chance at love, which comes at the most unexpected time in her life. She learns that the Lord never abandons His children; and by keeping the faith, one remembers His omnipresence.
Emotional suffering is not exclusive to a race, gender, sexual orientation, or social class. Both Maureen and Doris have their unique sets of experiences, but the mutual pain they bear in their hearts help them relate to one another and bring them closer. Through the burdens they carry and learn to share with each other, God provides each woman with an instrument that will remind them of His unconditional love.
"I resisted getting close to anyone but I felt so depressed and lonely." Maureen represents those whose faith is shaken due to bad experiences in their past, but that suffering will leave room for a deeper appreciation for blessings given by God. "Then someone told me that if you really loved me as much as I said you did, you wouldn't want to see me suffer, you would want me to go on with my life. It took me the longest time to believe that, but now I do."
SOURCE Elm Hill
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