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by Donald Balltzglier (Author)
The Perfect Christian Family is a memoir with an underlying theme. It chronicles the journey of one family's struggle through the expectations of faith and the reality of the unexpected struggles of life. The underlying message is that perceived perfection does not exist under any label or in any context and having a strong faith will not insulate us from unrelenting trouble, unexpected trauma, and problematic cultural influences.
The vulnerability in the story is designed to offset misconceptions about family devotion to faith, and the results that are expected because of such pristine devotion. The new emerging idea is that in acknowledging and embracing the fact that our struggles as families are very real, we no longer strive for a crippling, illusive ideal. We embrace the real and then chase the ideal. This is the place where true hope is found.
The book focuses on a decade in time in which all of our Christian beliefs and practices were challenged to their core. We experienced failure of purpose, repeated loss, sickness and disease, and a culmination of traumatic events that would eventually bring about cataclysmic change. It was much like a category 5 hurricane, which annihilates everything in its path, leaving only the concrete foundations visible and intact. The foundations for us were Jesus and his love.
During this time of chaotic imperfections, we began to discover deeper, much richer, meanings to life and being a family of faith. Valuing each other more than religious traditions became the priority. Deference and sacrifice for one another became the goal, and authentic love and respect emerged as the new house we were constructing.
The transparent story is told in hopes that many families would find the courage to embrace their beautiful imperfections, find a resilient love for one another, and fulfill their purpose among the families of the earth.
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