A Very Exciting Announcement: FACING LOSS—the Book—Is Now Available!

Facing Loss, the book, is available and here’s how to order paperback or hardback copies:

• From WESTBOW PRESS: ORDER HERE (Paperback or Hardback)
• From AMAZON: ORDER PAPERBACK HERE (Paperback)
• From AMAZON: ORDER HARDBACK HERE (Hardback)

NOTE: An ebook option is forthcoming in the next couple weeks.

Why and How? Background to the Book

“Whatever is spoken to us in the darkness of sorrow, we are to speak out in the light. What we hear in the ear as we listen in the hour of grief or pain, we are to proclaim upon the housetops. What is revealed to us in the darkened room, when the curtains are drawn, we must go and tell others in their hours of need and trial. In all trouble we are stewards of the mysteries of God.” J. R. Miller, The Ministry of Comfort

This week, I interrupt my normal Facing Loss with the Wisdom of Proverbs entries to share this exciting announcement. My entries will continue next week with the Proverbs 27.

I began journaling a week following Kim’s death. Later, I was convinced to repurpose my journal into a blog. J. R. Miller, in the above quote, beautifully explains my eventual reasoning for sharing lessons learned. I began releasing entries in February 2020, a year following Kim’s death. To quote J. R. Miller, once again, I decided I “must go and tell others in their hours of need and trial.”

What emerged became a several part weekly blog that has continue uninterrupted from February 2020 up to the present—at least uninterrupted until today. Part one chronicled lessons of hope learned on my unwanted journey as I faced loss. Part two was the fruit of journaling through the Psalms. Finally, I decided on part three, where I have been, most recently, journaling through the wisdom of Proverbs. As I interrupt to share today’s news, I am nearing the end of my blog entries. I will complete my blogging journey in the next two months.

Along the way, several people have encouraged a book.

After retiring and moving to the Mobile Bay, Amanda and I came to the conviction that we had a “mysteries of God” gift to steward (as stated by J. R. Miller). I entered into a contract with WestBow Press, a self-publishing subsidiary of Thomas Nelson/Zondervan. Amanda and I determined we were willing to invest to pay for the professional services, including proper editing. In fact, Amanda cautioned me that I could not release a book inspired by the loss of my wife, Kim (who was a writer and editor) without professional editing. True story.

We are motivated to reinvest into others the comfort I’ve received. Publishing is costly. I’m not opposed to offset some of my investment; however, I want to invest all of the comfort!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I look back over my journey and can only come to the conclusion that for two-and-a-half years, God poured lessons into my life from his Word, from authors and songwriters, and from brothers and sisters who walked with me when I was most open and most desperate. This is a stewardship to us.

Last week, WestBow Press notified me that my book was available. You can share with others. I hope you will trust this new resource and put it in the hands of people facing loss. Have them search “Facing Loss” on WestBow or Amazon.

I am grateful to Jerry Sittser, an oft-quoted author in my blog. He agreed to read and endorse my book. I close by sharing his endorsement:

“Some books do one thing, like teaching us how to grow roses or telling a good story about growing up on a farm in the Deep South. Other books—and these are much rarer—do several things at once. This is one of those books. As you will discover, D. Ray Davis lost his wife after thirty-five years of marriage. It was brutally sudden and traumatic. Facing Loss tells his story. But it does so much more. For one, Davis shares his interior life as he experienced and pondered the loss, and he does so honestly. For another, he tells us what he learned along the way. He is a wise and practical teacher, refusing to surrender to mere abstractions or give shallow advice. Finally, he quotes the Bible, frequently and appropriately, not so much to offer easy answers but to demonstrate how true to life the Bible is. It speaks to life as we live it from day to day, both in moments of triumph and in moments of agony. Davis guides readers on a journey through his pain. But he does more: He invites us as readers to reflect deeply on our own. I would choose him as a guide any day.”

—Jerry Sittser, author, A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss and A Grace Revealed: How God Redeems the Story of Your Life; professor emeritus of theology and senior fellow, Whitworth University, Spokane, Washington

If you choose to order and read, I would appreciate you rating the book and writing a recommendation. Thank you for your support and encouragement along the way!

Next week, back to Proverbs 27!