Perseverance: The Art of Not Giving Up
Essays on Life, God, and Cystic Fibrosis
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“There are certain things in life that define us, whether we like it or not. Although born with the genetic disease, cystic fibrosis (CF), I wasn’t diagnosed until my early twenties. Always feeling different in some way, it was almost a relief when the doctor revealed the results of the myriad of medical tests. However, being told I suffered a terminal illness, before I’d actually had a chance to live, the relief did not last long. Cystic fibrosis would be with me for the remainder of my life and who knew how long that would be? This realization was the end of life as I knew it and the beginning of many years in rebellion and sinful behavior. If I was going to die, I concluded, I would die having fun! In God’s irony, as it turned out, I was blessed with a mild form of CF, and the dying part, I discovered, was not imminent. Life carried on, mistakes were made—I was beaten down. On a monumental day in October of 1999, after twenty years of an empty existence, illness and two failed marriages, I invited Jesus Christ back into my heart……”
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About the Book
What if every hardship you faced was shaping you for a greater purpose?
In Perseverance: The Art of Not Giving Up, Linda Stratton opens her heart with a deeply personal and faith-filled memoir that illuminates life with cystic fibrosis through essays, poems, and prose written over two decades. From diagnosis in early adulthood to the heartbreak of loss and the quiet triumph of caregiving, this reflective journey is anchored by an unwavering trust in God's will.
Drawing from real-life experiences of chronic illness, aging, caregiving, and spiritual growth, Stratton offers readers candid moments of grief, humor, and grace. With themes of Christian perseverance, spiritual caregiving, and faith through suffering, her story becomes a guiding light for others navigating long-term health battles or caring for loved ones. The Bible's timeless truths thread through every page, offering comfort, strength, and the assurance of God’s presence.
Whether she is serving in nursing homes, dancing with an oxygen tank, or finding peace after heartbreak, Stratton shows that purpose can be found even in life’s most trying seasons. Perseverance is more than a cystic fibrosis memoir. It is a Christian testimony of healing, resilience, and the enduring power of faith.
If you are seeking spiritual encouragement, a chronic illness memoir, or reflections on caregiving and grace, this book offers the hope your heart longs for.
Read and be reminded: God never lets go.
About the Author
Linda Stratton was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a young age and eventually found salvation in Jesus Christ. Through faith and spiritual growth, amazing blessings began to unfold that included caring for her parents until their deaths. Now in her seventies, she enjoys the love and fellowship of family, church, and friends, being a grandmother, and her newfound relationship with the son she gave up for adoption.