The Author
"In June 1986, God inspired me to write. From that point forward, nearly every time
His words entered my consciousness, I wrote them down."
"What was I waiting for? I was not waiting any longer--and I began to answer
His call to write this book for the glory of God!"
Connie Bricker Shaler - A Voice of Hope - Preface
His words entered my consciousness, I wrote them down."
"What was I waiting for? I was not waiting any longer--and I began to answer
His call to write this book for the glory of God!"
Connie Bricker Shaler - A Voice of Hope - Preface
CONNIE BRICKER SHALER was born at home and grew up in the country near the Jordan River Valley in Northern Michigan. She is one of seven children raised on a farm. Her mom was a loving mother, devoted wife, and homemaker; her dad served in the U.S. Army and worked at East Jordan Iron Works until his diagnosis of cancer in 1986. A farmer at heart, he planted organic vegetable gardens, raised trophy Herford cattle, and was proud of his loving family. Connie's parents taught the importance of good work ethics and instilled strong moral values - love, honesty, and respect.
After graduating high school, Connie married Frank A. Shaler. They remain in the community where they both grew up and raised three children. They now have nine grandchildren.
Just before Connie's dad died in 1986, God spoke to her for the first time, and she began to write. In less than a year, she also grieved over the deaths of her uncle, aunt, cousin, and grandfather. In July 1987, her body shutdown and she was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), unknown origin. In spite of continued grieving and the loss of her own health, her faith grew stronger. In 1995, she began to recover physically, regained some strength, but continued a battle within her soul. It was in December 2009 when she came to realize severe depression had caused her CFS.
Connie worked many years for Mark Patrick at State Farm Insurance with her younger sister, Bette. She loved her job and the people she worked with, but retired in 2014 to spend more time with her family and focus on completing her first book.
God granted Connie an amazing appreciation for music and used music to nurture her soul. She remains active in her faith community, sings, and plays flute in the church choir.
To this day, Connie still hears God's voice. She listens to His words of guidance and writes whenever He speaks and inspires her to write. She continues to struggle with major depressive episodes and Satan's warfare, but God protects her soul, helps her endure, and blesses her well.
The writings in this book reflect the author's struggle, survival, and ongoing recovery.
After graduating high school, Connie married Frank A. Shaler. They remain in the community where they both grew up and raised three children. They now have nine grandchildren.
Just before Connie's dad died in 1986, God spoke to her for the first time, and she began to write. In less than a year, she also grieved over the deaths of her uncle, aunt, cousin, and grandfather. In July 1987, her body shutdown and she was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), unknown origin. In spite of continued grieving and the loss of her own health, her faith grew stronger. In 1995, she began to recover physically, regained some strength, but continued a battle within her soul. It was in December 2009 when she came to realize severe depression had caused her CFS.
Connie worked many years for Mark Patrick at State Farm Insurance with her younger sister, Bette. She loved her job and the people she worked with, but retired in 2014 to spend more time with her family and focus on completing her first book.
God granted Connie an amazing appreciation for music and used music to nurture her soul. She remains active in her faith community, sings, and plays flute in the church choir.
To this day, Connie still hears God's voice. She listens to His words of guidance and writes whenever He speaks and inspires her to write. She continues to struggle with major depressive episodes and Satan's warfare, but God protects her soul, helps her endure, and blesses her well.
The writings in this book reflect the author's struggle, survival, and ongoing recovery.
Acknowledgements:
I thank God for placing His words on my heart, in my conscious and unconscious thoughts, and revealing visions and dreams for me to remember. I thank God for being patient and placing His trust in me. I thank Him for each path He intended me to follow when I gained enough strength; when I decided I was ready, willing, and able. I thank God for granting me time to learn His lessons, so I could appreciate how I came to be at this point in my life and understand why. I thank God for deeming me worthy, granting me His forgiveness, allowing me to forgive myself. I am most thankful He helped me find the place within my heart and soul where He resides, knowing I could trust and believe in His incredible love for me.
To my husband, Frank, thank you for seeking me in the beginning and continuing to tell me how much you love me. Thank you for supporting me and enduring with me; caring about me and taking care of me, especially when I was sick, extremely fatigued, deeply depressed, and recovering. Thank you for waiting for me to find my way back, allowing me enough space that was essential for my survival Thank you for being patient with me when I was broken, distant, and lost within myself. Thank you for allowing me enough time to work on this book, especially since God gave me clarity and placed urgency in my soul. Thank you for your loving, forgiving heart, devoting yourself to me in spite of it all! God truly blessed our lives when He chose you for me and me for you.
To our children, Michelle, Frank, and Becky, thank you for enduring and surviving my loss of health and so many boundaries it created with our family, especially when you were young. Thank you for your patience and being helpful whenever I needed someone close by. Thank you for understanding and showing compassion that gave me strength and hope, more than you will ever know. Since you have grown and moved on, thank you for continuing to be tender and considerate of my limitations, for still guarding me and being concerned, and always looking out for me! I love you all, and I am so proud of each of you. I also thank Stephen, Onica, and Rylan for loving my children, creating families you love, and sharing them with me! To our grandchildren, Aurora, Annabelle, and Ella; David, Zander, and Cannon; Jonah, Simon, and Abram - each of you brings incredible, loving joy into my heart and soul. All of you help me sustain a balance in my life, and I love you all so much!
To my brothers and sisters, my immediate and extended family, thank you for showing me what is important in life. Thank you for helping me become "who I am" today, believing in me, and encouraging me to never give up. Thank you for helping me see humor in simple things, making me laugh, even when I lost my ability and desire to smile - you helped me through it all. Thank you for your kindness, loving me as I was before and as I am now. I appreciate your insight and perspective, always being truthful and completely honest with me. I am most grateful your voices, laughter, and love live within me. I love you all back even more!
To Mark and Nancy Patrick, thank you for your understanding and loving support as I initially began to recover. Thank you for allowing me to care for Eric and Adam! Their presence brought joy back into my life and broke through my debilitating depression. Their innocence, love, and laughter helped facilitate my emotional and physical recovery. Thank you for sharing them with me and making a loving difference in my life. Thank you for allowing me to work for you and be a part of your lives - your belief and trust in me gave me self-confidence and a world of knowledge. When I was struggling to survive, you were always accommodating, allowing me whatever time I needed to recover. I can never thank you enough for you kindness, concern, and generosity. I am forever grateful!
To all my friends, hometown acquaintances, and faith community, you encouraged and helped inspire me by touching my heart and soul in loving ways. Your presence helped me survive and look to the future. Thank you for being in my life.
To everyone who read my manuscript before it was published, I am most grateful. I truly appreciate your willingness, time, and input that helped make this book possible.
A special thank you to Joyce Baker, a dear family friend, who initially entered my poems and writing into the computer.
To the staff of OfficeMax in Petoskey, thank you for your printing services prior to final publication. I appreciate your assistance and support of this book.
To my editor, Mary Jo Zazueta, your expertise and professionalism was amazing. Thank you for your patience and direction to bring A Voice of Hope to print! I appreciate your help through the process.
My sincere thanks to everyone who has touched my life and to those I will yet meet along the way - you are my voice of hope!
I thank God for placing His words on my heart, in my conscious and unconscious thoughts, and revealing visions and dreams for me to remember. I thank God for being patient and placing His trust in me. I thank Him for each path He intended me to follow when I gained enough strength; when I decided I was ready, willing, and able. I thank God for granting me time to learn His lessons, so I could appreciate how I came to be at this point in my life and understand why. I thank God for deeming me worthy, granting me His forgiveness, allowing me to forgive myself. I am most thankful He helped me find the place within my heart and soul where He resides, knowing I could trust and believe in His incredible love for me.
To my husband, Frank, thank you for seeking me in the beginning and continuing to tell me how much you love me. Thank you for supporting me and enduring with me; caring about me and taking care of me, especially when I was sick, extremely fatigued, deeply depressed, and recovering. Thank you for waiting for me to find my way back, allowing me enough space that was essential for my survival Thank you for being patient with me when I was broken, distant, and lost within myself. Thank you for allowing me enough time to work on this book, especially since God gave me clarity and placed urgency in my soul. Thank you for your loving, forgiving heart, devoting yourself to me in spite of it all! God truly blessed our lives when He chose you for me and me for you.
To our children, Michelle, Frank, and Becky, thank you for enduring and surviving my loss of health and so many boundaries it created with our family, especially when you were young. Thank you for your patience and being helpful whenever I needed someone close by. Thank you for understanding and showing compassion that gave me strength and hope, more than you will ever know. Since you have grown and moved on, thank you for continuing to be tender and considerate of my limitations, for still guarding me and being concerned, and always looking out for me! I love you all, and I am so proud of each of you. I also thank Stephen, Onica, and Rylan for loving my children, creating families you love, and sharing them with me! To our grandchildren, Aurora, Annabelle, and Ella; David, Zander, and Cannon; Jonah, Simon, and Abram - each of you brings incredible, loving joy into my heart and soul. All of you help me sustain a balance in my life, and I love you all so much!
To my brothers and sisters, my immediate and extended family, thank you for showing me what is important in life. Thank you for helping me become "who I am" today, believing in me, and encouraging me to never give up. Thank you for helping me see humor in simple things, making me laugh, even when I lost my ability and desire to smile - you helped me through it all. Thank you for your kindness, loving me as I was before and as I am now. I appreciate your insight and perspective, always being truthful and completely honest with me. I am most grateful your voices, laughter, and love live within me. I love you all back even more!
To Mark and Nancy Patrick, thank you for your understanding and loving support as I initially began to recover. Thank you for allowing me to care for Eric and Adam! Their presence brought joy back into my life and broke through my debilitating depression. Their innocence, love, and laughter helped facilitate my emotional and physical recovery. Thank you for sharing them with me and making a loving difference in my life. Thank you for allowing me to work for you and be a part of your lives - your belief and trust in me gave me self-confidence and a world of knowledge. When I was struggling to survive, you were always accommodating, allowing me whatever time I needed to recover. I can never thank you enough for you kindness, concern, and generosity. I am forever grateful!
To all my friends, hometown acquaintances, and faith community, you encouraged and helped inspire me by touching my heart and soul in loving ways. Your presence helped me survive and look to the future. Thank you for being in my life.
To everyone who read my manuscript before it was published, I am most grateful. I truly appreciate your willingness, time, and input that helped make this book possible.
A special thank you to Joyce Baker, a dear family friend, who initially entered my poems and writing into the computer.
To the staff of OfficeMax in Petoskey, thank you for your printing services prior to final publication. I appreciate your assistance and support of this book.
To my editor, Mary Jo Zazueta, your expertise and professionalism was amazing. Thank you for your patience and direction to bring A Voice of Hope to print! I appreciate your help through the process.
My sincere thanks to everyone who has touched my life and to those I will yet meet along the way - you are my voice of hope!