Beyond the Mirror
An Encouraging Story of Love and Mercy
by
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Charlese wished she still felt like that. What had happened? She never gave a second thought to praying when she was young...But at some point in time, God seemed to fall by the wayside and didn't seem as important any more. Her own ambitions had taken root and had become the priority. She was doing well, she thought, and now because of all that had occurred, why should she even think God cared about her humdrum life. Wasn't one of the reasons people went to church was to pray and ask God to help them? There had been many times when she had needed him desperately and prayed for a miracle, but she felt her pleas for help had been unanswered. That was what hurt so much. For now, however, she didn't have time for contemplating. She had to stay focused on the plan to surprise Walker. Her feelings were as unpredictable as a roller coaster. She didn't want to be in that mind frame when she was anticipating such a wonderful visit. As luck had it, she didn't have long to wait.
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About the Book
In the tight-knit community of Meadowlark, Charlese Matthews grows and thrives. From an early age, she learns about God’s love from her adoring parents; even better, they show her that love by making their home the center of neighborhood activity. It’s open and hospitable to anyone, especially to Charlese’s neighbor and best friend, Walker. The young friends share everything from secrets to snacks, and are never far apart.
But when her mother dies suddenly, Charlese’s wonderful and carefree world shatters. She leans heavily on those around her and tries to adjust to her devastating loss, but as she grows older it becomes harder for her to deal with her mother’s absence especially when confronted with the mysteries of puberty and boys. She graduates high school then college, but circumstances arise that have her questioning God’s existence in her life and her friendship with Walker seems to drift apart.
Now an adult with a secure job and new home, Charlese views the world differently. She feels like God abandoned her many years ago and she can handle things on her own. But when she reconnects with Walker, everything from her past comes roaring back. She realizes she can no longer run from God and learns a hard yet valuable lesson in true friendship, trust, and self worth.
Full of faith and hope, Beyond the Mirror is a heartwarming and captivating story of devotion, loss and love. Also, included in this volume is A New Beginning, the sequel to Beyond the Mirror that shares Charlese’s continuing journey and the importance of family and faith.
About the Author
Denise is an active member of her church and enjoys volunteering in her community. She and her husband, Peter, have three children and four grandchildren. In her spare time, Denise enjoys time with her family and trips to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her fondest memories of Helen, Georgia and her passion for the mountains were her inspiration for the fictional township of Meadowlark. She currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida.