ReadBooksBy.Faith

All about author Faith Phillips

grief

*Rise Up by Leslie Christian*

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Rise Up tells the raw, true-life account of what it feels like to mourn a child lost to tragedy from the perspective of an entire family and their community. This is a story of what it feels like to suffer unspeakable grief and still cling to your faith.

Good morning, Frequenters of the Flog! What a year, eh? I reviewed my journal entries this morning and I must say this was one that defied prediction in so many good and bad ways, as life happens. We’re decidedly ending 2021 with The Good by announcing the opening of our pre-sale period for Leslie Christian’s “Rise Up”. This sales period is exclusively for subscribers to ReadBooksBy.Faith and the Leslie Christian Facebook Group, “Rise Up” until January 3, 2022, when sales will be opened up to the general public. The book is 125 pages long. Pricing includes shipping costs. Copies will be shipped out in order of purchase. Our first printing is a limited series of just 250 copies shipped out January 31st. Please be sure your shipping address is accurate on your PayPal account. The pre-sale link is live here and now!!! Click below to be the first to order:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rise-up-leslie-christian/1140911569

This was a year of great change. My students became #MMIW activists, appeared on Frontline PBS, published their own books, placed Cherokee poetry in the Chicago Field Museum, debuted an original stage play, and basically just slayed, in general. My teaching career came to its conclusion in May and I returned to my true love: writing. But before that, I wrote in April: “I’m writing a screenplay about my teaching experience. Mark it down, dude, we are going to make a film.” I had no idea those words would come true within a matter of months. I signed my first contract with a production company in June.

The students lit a fire in me to figure out some way to continue serving our community and showcase the overwhelming talent of our people. I brought in a number of stakeholders from the Adair County community and the Oklahoma Arts Council to make a plea for an Arts District. The response was immediate and overwhelming. Watch for major, exciting announcements about this in the first quarter of 2022.

We suffered devastating loss this year. Our grandmother died in June, taking with her a source of light and pure joy that, for us, can never be replicated in another human being.

My friend, Lindsey Wise Spirit, who took me in and made me her sister at Standing Rock, died of COVID-19 after many weeks in the hospital. She leaves behind a grieving husband and four precious babies. They are my family. The pandemic continues to wreak havoc in society. Perhaps even worse than the virus is witnessing our fellows tear each other apart in political and religious hatred.

In the face of grief my answer is clear. Lean in and love. Do all things in love. Work to unify even when it seems impossible. That’s what I’ve been sent to do. I am a peacemaker. Above all things this year, this book by Leslie Christian has taken precedence. That’s because its ultimate message is one of love, service, and unification. Consider this excerpt:

Facebook Entry, Leslie Christian:

August 31, 2020 – 6:04 a.m. 

We are so humble and thankful for every prayer, word, deed, and financial support. They pour into our broken hearts. 

Kayden’s lungs are struggling. We knew this might be the road but watching the struggle unfold is scary. These words give our family sustaining breath when we are not sure how to breathe. 

More than anything, we desire this horrific time to have eternal meaning. So share, speak up to lost people, ask each other and yourself, “If I die today, where would I spend eternity?” If you cannot without hesitation say, ‘In heaven, because I ask Jesus to forgive my sin that separates me,” then today is the day. We are so thankful Konner only knew love and that God holds him for us until we meet again. 

“God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved when morning comes.” Psalm 46:5

These words! One more for Jesus.

Facebook Entry, Jody Pruitt:

August 31, 2020 – 7:32 a.m. 

We all have a habit of taking life for granted. We all wake up and proceed with our day thinking, “there will always be tomorrow.” As we know, that is not always the case. Our days are given to us as a present and never promised. 

I unfortunately found this out the hard way, ten years ago, when I lost my baby brother to an accidental drowning. 

I have learned since then to love my children day in and day out. I make my life around them so that they know if anything was to happen to me or them that their mother loves them until her last dying breath.

To see the Miller family going through what they are going through right now breaks my heart and makes me even more open to letting my kids know that they are never unloved, nor a mistake in my life, nor an option. It makes me realize that there are more things that I need to correct in mine and my children’s lives. We need to be a child of God and draw closer to him.

It is sad that it takes a tragedy to open people’s eyes, but sometimes it does. You have to take it and learn. You have to grow and realize that your life and every life around you is a gift. You are to conquer everything God throws at you.  Know that he gave it to you for a reason. You will not know that reason right away but it will soon come to light. 

Just remember your life may be hard today. It may be hard tomorrow. But God loves you and He is teaching you. He’s teaching people around you, maybe using you as an example. Just be strong and pray every day. Love your family, show them you love them, tell them you love them. Never take one day for granted, because it might be your last.

Ok, that’s all for now, my friend. I am always grateful for your love, trust, and generosity. Let us meet again in 2022.

Donadagohvi, Faith.

Okie Noir Press Announces Debut Title: “Rise Up: A Story of Tragedy and Triumph” by Leslie Christian

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Leslie Christian hails from rural southern Oklahoma. Born and raised in red dirt and sand, Christian’s life consists of nourishing crops, animals, and family. Leslie describes life as an adventure with the Lord, both at home and abroad. Her years have been filled with faith. That faith was put to the ultimate test in August 2020, when she received a devastating phone call that upended the world as she knew it.

Osiyo, dear Floggers! Faith Phillips here. So good to be back in regular contact with you again. I’m here to tell you about a new book, but this time it isn’t mine. We opened Okie Noir Press as a small publishing house over a year ago, with a future plan to publish my books and the books of other regional writers, especially young people writing in the Cherokee Nation. I finished teaching in May with the intention of finally publishing my fifth book, “The River Book”. But my plans almost never work out. The Creator usually has something better lined up when I ask for guidance and listen for the answer.

Exactly one year ago, on August 29th 2020, I received a strange call. The name of my precious friend, Jimmy May, showed up on the caller ID. We almost exclusively communicated by text, so I immediately sensed trouble. I answered and Jimmy said, “Leslie Christian’s twin grandsons have drowned. They’re being life flighted. Pray now.”

I didn’t ask for details. I hung up and dropped to my knees. After I finished praying, I contacted The Rev, our home group, friends and family to ask for fervent prayer. Leslie had been my roommate during the single most paradigm-shifting experience of my life – my first trip to Malawi. She had been a critical part of my experience there, accepting and encouraging me even though I was riddled with self-doubt. She made such an impression on my life that I wrote about her in my second book. I felt at least a small fraction of her pain as I waited for news.

As the days passed by after the initial drowning incident, it became clear that my friend would live in a state of long-term grief. My prayers changed then and I began to ask, “What can I do to help my sister?” I waited. Then, several months ago, the answer came in the form of a manuscript. This manuscript told the raw, true-life account of what it feels like to mourn a baby from the perspective not just of Leslie, but of her entire family and their community. More importantly, the book tells the story of what it feels like to suffer unspeakable grief and still cling to your faith. As I read through the manuscript I was struck by its gut-wrenching honesty. I wept many times and I still do as I continue to prepare the book for publication.

This book is not just about one family’s loss. Ultimately, Rise Up will foster a community of people who can network and provide support for one another in the face of great tragedy. We welcome you to join the Rise UP Leslie Christian Group page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/520386559052657

I am always grateful for your loyal readership. I leave you now with an excerpt from Leslie Christian’s Rise Up.

From “Rise UP: A Story of Tragedy and Triumph”

  • Kayden and Konner Miller on the morning of August 29, 2020

We questioned our decision as we pulled out of the kids’ driveway. Has that ever happened to you? I mean, really, what would it have hurt if we had just taken the boys with us? We could have tag teamed with the errands. We could have had one more night making memories with them. 

“Nah,” we thought. 

“There will be more time,” we said.  

We knew we would see them tomorrow.  Have you ever really considered how precious time is and what you should prioritize as your most important decisions?  In our story, we will consider that question forever, from now on.  As for our choice, we pulled out of the kids’ driveway having made our decision.  We would see them in the morning for church.  Little did we know in a few short hours our lives would be changed forever. We would learn that we were wrong. There would be no more time tomorrow.

My husband and I went on to complete our errands.  I purchased my outfit for the Colorado family pictures.  Clayton got his hair cut and we headed back home to finish chores.  We had a roast with potatoes and carrots waiting on us for supper.  After a busy weekend schedule with toddlers, it wasn’t just the twins who had a scheduled nap. We looked forward to one, too. 

That plan was interrupted at home by an unexpected call from our youngest daughter’s boyfriend.  He wanted to come by and talk with us privately about our princess, Bridgett. Up we went to the country Dollar Store to get the gravy mix we had forgotten.  

Now, let me just say here, part of our country life almost always involves living off the grid.  Cell phone service is terrible on a good day.  So, as we were driving, you can imagine our surprise when a Facetime call from the twins’ mom came through.  We were excited to see the boys because, as you might have already guessed, we thought they were calling to show us their swimming pool moves. You will recall I had promised a big pool swim after they woke up from nap. 

But nothing in that moment matched any scenario we could have predicted or imagined, even in our worst nightmares. When I swiped the green button on my phone to speak with my daughter all we heard were terrified screams.  

“Mom get here…(pause)….Mom my boys…pool….drown!” 

Lost connection.  We called back to see our baby girl giving CPR to the babies and screaming, “Mom, get here….(compression)….(breath)….Mom, my boys have drowned….(compression)….(breath).” 

We lost the connection for a final time and that was it.  Clayton and I flew north with the understanding that the big pool swim had somehow transformed into the most tragic moment of our lives.

My first thought: PRAY.  Pray boldly.  Pray with confidence.  Pray scripture.  God has performed miracles before.  Believe.  Believe in God.  Believe He will do it again. Then what? Call. Call my dad. Call my strongest prayer warrior.  Call someone I know who will have service and will call all our family prayer warriors.  

FAST, Clayton.  Go FAST.  Get to my kids.  REPEAT. 

Decisions.  Let’s just go ahead and talk about that right now.  Clayton and I will be presented with more decisions in the future. As you read this story, you will too.  Let your decisions be guided by what is most important in life.  You really are not promised that, “we will see them in the morning for church,” moment. Weigh that final decision carefully when you pull out of the driveway.

But the Lord is our banner!“

Pre-orders available this fall, exclusively on ReadBooksBy.Faith. Publication date, December 1, 2021. #okienoir