December 28, 1998

 

Dear Luella

 

My name is V. Smith.  At my job we did a gift exchange for Christmas and S. Trascher picked my name.  She gave me your book "Solid As A Rock I Stand",  I read the book from cover to cover in a day.  She even had the book signed by you at her sister's book party this month and I greatly appreciated that.  This book couldn't have come at a better time of my life.

 

For the last three years, I have been in an abusive relationship (mentally, emotionally, and especially physically).  Let me tell you, three years can seem like a lifetime when you're in pain.  I continued to lie to my friends and family because of his threats to kill me or one of my family members.  I kept a journal for the last two years and documented everything, I even did a private Will for fear that he was going to kill me sooner or later.  I moved in with a friend in November and still can't sleep at night due to nightmare and bad nerves.  Reading this book gave me the confidence and the strength I once had and has helped me complete my New Years resolution.  I can now rise to be the best that I can be and cherish these moments and blessing that I have in this world.

 

I want to thank you again for sharing your emotions and helping another person get their lives on track.

 

Sincerely

 

 

V. Smith

Benicia, California

 

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February 14, 1998

 

Dear Luella:

 

It is an honor and privilege to have finally met you and to have received your new book entitled "Solid As A Rock I Stand".  While reading your book, there were many instances where I experienced a transformation from reader to becoming the subject matter.  "Solid As A Rock I Stand" has a powerful message and no more can we turn a deaf ear to the voice crying in the wilderness.  No more can we tell our young folks to "do as I say and not as I do", for every good-by-ain't gone and every shut eye ain't sleep.  We are held accountable to each other, for the words says "what you do the least of me you do to me also."

 

Thank you for sharing your gift of inspirational words, whereby the young and old can relate.  There are many who have a nd/or will attest to the brutal  but honest truth about the power of love, and you've covered the spectrum on the many effects of this power.  For some, love is where you find it, but many  unfortunately do not fully understand what agape and/or charitable love (unconditional) is all about, thus fall prey to fears and become as broken clay, o h... but there is a balm in Gilead.

 

Again thank God and you for being a catalyst by which we are able to measure our strengths as well as our weakness.

 

 

 

Your sister in Christ

Gwendolyn R. Blackwell-DeRosans

Refreshing Minds Reading Group

 

 

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