A PAIR OF MIRACLES – A Book Nook Review

March 2, 2018March 2, 2018 Kassidy Weemhoff

A STORY OF AUTISM, FAITH, AND DETERMINED PARENTING
By Karla Akins, Kregel Publications, PB, 219 pages

Karla Akins and her husband adopted premature twin boys, Isaiah and Isaac, when they were only a few days old. As the boys grew, she noted certain distinct signs of abnormality in the way the boys functioned. Eventually they were diagnosed with autism, an event that changed Akins’ life.

In this moving testimony, Akins shares her winding journey through motherhood and, more specifically, being the mother of children with autism. Opening each chapter with a Bible verse, she continually incorporates faith into the story of loss, frustration, redemption and restoration. Akins develops a multi-faceted story that is both inspiring and informative through a rotation of testimony, relation to faith and discussion about autism. Dispersed throughout the book and compiled into a list of appendices at the end are tips and resources that would be beneficial to parents or grandparents who have questions about their autistic loved ones. This concise, organized book with a well-thought-out plot and clear voice offers an in-depth look into God’s hand in every situation.

Karla Akins turned to God for strength in the unknown, full of raw grief and confusion. Every Christian has experienced feeling far from God and the frustration that comes with that feeling. Akins beautifully shares her spiritual journey–one of incredible restoration–and the process of being a lost mother guided by Christ. This testimony of God’s faithfulness can comfort readers in the complicated processes of life. There will be times of strife and turmoil in life, but God can use these times for good and for growth. Living with special needs is far from easy, and Akins readily admits that fact. It is in this confession that she sees God’s hand at work even in the most restless of times, inspiring readers to seek God amidst the challenges.