I randomly got an email that this book was on sale and something told me to just go ahead and buy it. See, I knew of Pastor Levi Lusko’s story when I discovered him years ago on KLOVE radio. When I looked him up on Youtube, I stumbled upon the celebration of life of his 5 year old daughter who had died unexpectedly from an asthma attack. Talk about heart wrenching, life changing kind of pain. I wept and wept and wept… In buying “Through the eyes of a lion – Facing impossible pain, finding incredible power”, I just knew the testimony shared in Lenya Lion’s story would be impactful and I was right.
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What I found most helpful about this book was the transparency and vulnerability of the author as he shared his lowest points but also the faith it took to lift his hands up in the ER to worship God as his world was crumbling. Being a pastor did not exempt Pastor Lusko from experiencing the different stages of grief as they showed up in waves. You will get mad at the painful situation at hand and you may even get mad at God for allowing you to experience such pain; you will experience denial, guilt and maybe even depression and all that’s OK because we’re only human. The bottom line is to go through these stages but not to dwell in them because there is purpose behind the pain.
One story within this book that really struck me was that of a man whose 6-month old baby stopped breathing while on a plane, thousands of feet in the air. They tried to resuscitate him but to no avail. You can imagine how this airplane ride from hell was an unforgettable experience but Pastor Levi heard of this tragedy and contacted the father. He was able to be a beacon of hope to this grieving family because he had walked in those shoes before. See? That’s part of the purpose behind the pain. Many of the nurses and doctors who tried to save Lenya’s life ended up surrendering their life to Christ when they attended her burial service. That too is a beautiful part of the purpose behind Lenya’s parents’ pain.
Although we know this planet isn’t our forever home, we are never fully prepared to leave it behind or watch our loved ones go ahead of us. Even if you’re not grieving, this book will prepare you for when that time comes because it will – whether it is through the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship or even the loss of a job. Knowing that God mends all broken hearts certainly restores our hope.
Sounds like a great book!