All of my life I've been an Alabama football fan (although I've added Tennessee to the mix after getting married). It seemed unbelievable that a tornado did as much damage as it did in Tuscaloosa that afternoon. The next day I heard one of the Alabama football players was in the hospital and had lost his girlfriend in the storm. It was kind of like the final straw for me. I could not imagine being 21 years old, holding my loved one in a closet and next thing I knew, she was gone. Last Fall I found out that Carson Tinker, that 21 year old kid who had been through so much more than any kid should, was writing a book about his experience. I knew I had to get that book!
It took me over 2 years to really shake the things I saw in the aftermath of that day. Carson Tinker shares how he overcame so much in his book. It isn't so much about the actual tornado, but rather how he kept his faith and chose to "be a blessing" rather than give up. He tells his story of how he spent sleepless nights just reading his Bible, how he relied on his teammates, spent hours upon hours in rehab for his injuries, and how those around him encouraged him in so many ways. He easily could have given up on his dreams, chosen to accept that his injuries ended his football career, and dwelled on the fact that he was here and his girlfriend was not. Instead, he worked harder than he ever had and is now a NFL long snapper. God has given him so many blessings, he is now giving back.
*I was given a copy of the book to read for this review. You can preorder a copy today on Amazon or Lifeway.com. It will be released on May 1.
