Joni and Ken (Review)

Movies, television, and many novels glorify young love and romance. But I’ve always thought that where love and romance are truly exemplified is is the lives of couples who have been married for 30 or 40 or 50 years and who obviously love each other deeply—not just the sometimes passing attraction of new relationships, but the time-tested devotion and commitment to each other. Or in marriages where couples have clung together through serious trials and health problems, refusing to give up.

The story of Joni and Ken is one such story. This very open and honest book tells the story of Ken Tada and Joni Eareckson Tada, from their first meeting to the daily routines, conflicts and trials they have lived through. They are very honest about the times in their relationship when they were living parallel lives and about the resentment Ken often felt about Joni being the center of worldwide attention and about the utter fatigue and depression caused by dealing with her quadriplegia, then her fight with breast cancer, topped off with pneumonia.

Despite these trials, that most of us would consider insurmountable, shines the beautiful faith and commitment of both Joni and Ken, that didn’t let them ever give up, and that eventually blossomed into an even richer and fuller love for God and for each other than they could have imagined. They say, “The more devastating the trials, the more He has wrapped us both around Himself. God has used depression and chronic pain and cancer—far more than even quadriplegia—to bind us tighter than ever. To each other. To Him.”

I found it hard to put down this amazing book. It increased my admiration for these servants of God. It also gave me a wonderful view of marriage as God ordained it—not a focus on what we can get, but a focus on what we can give. It also motivated me to persevere through hard times and to trust that God can work in the worst of situations to draw us closer to Him.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review through the Booksneeze Blogger Review program.