Ours

Adrian Reynolds

Miscarriage affects couples, not just mothers. Men convince themselves that they need to be the strong ones and muscle on unaffected. Not so. Eric’s tour of Luke’s Gospel draws out pastoral applications which show real men how to grieve, care, love, grow, and understand following the tragedy of a miscarriage. There’s nothing else like this book for men.

Russell D. Moore

Finally—a book that deals with the grief experienced by fathers who have lost children to miscarriage. This book will help men to grieve with hope and to minister to their wives and families at the same time. It is honest, biblical, practical, and timely.

“A Rare Book on an Important Topic”

In the last couple of years, I've been seeking out books about pastoral care subjects for my work with men in my church. This topic, looking at miscarriage, was one of the least covered and most difficult to find something that was both biblical and gospel-centred, whilst also being caring and pastorally sensitive. In "Ours", Schumacher carefully shows us the God who cares and the God who hears, guiding us towards the biblical comfort that we so need. His short chapters/devotionals/reflections are just the right size for dipping into the topic carefully, allowing time to process this information on such an intense subject. I'm a real fan of the journal style so as you read you can write out some highlights or use it to make the experience more personal by writing out how it might apply. A definite recommendation to have on your bookshelf.

“wonderful”

This book is a must and I'm surprised there is nothing out there already addressing the grief that a man can and will navigate through a miscarriage. It's such a misconception that only women really deal with the grief coinciding with miscarriage. God created the marriage and the mother/father roles as vital instruments for children, born and unborn. The grief will have a direct impact on the father as well despite his physical distance.

What makes this book so relatable and personable, is Schumacher's honesty and willingness to share his own experience with miscarriage. He does not shy away from the reality of miscarriage and consistently shares the Gospel of Jesus through such an emotionally difficult experience.

The book itself is structured with thirty-one chapters and three additional appendices. The chapters follow the book of Luke to address every aspect that comes with a miscarriage such as grief, despair, mourning, anger, doubt, trust, etc.

The chapters are short and sweet but packed with powerful Gospel truth, reminders and encouragement. Schumacher is gentle and compassionate but firm in sharing what the Scriptures teach us.

The chapters include specific focus verses from the book of Luke along with reflect questions and a space for journaling. I love the journaling portion as this encourages men, who are not always given the opportunity to express or share their emotions.

This would be a perfect gift for any man experiencing a miscarriage.

I received a copy of this book The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.

“Gospel Centered”

“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
 
Death surrounds all of us, and we never get used to it. And while death is “natural”, there is also something very unnatural about it.
 
When the elderly die, we understand that it's part of ageing, but when a miscarriage occurs, that life has barely begun, we feel grief differently.
 
In ‘OURS’, Eric Schumacher provides a resource for men grieving the loss of a child in the form of a devotional.
 
Schumacher who has suffered four miscarriages is aptly equipped to speak on this difficult and at times uncomfortable subject and does so with wisdom & compassion.
 
With 31 devotionals the book is designed to be completed in a month, with each devotional taking five or so minutes to read but can obviously be read at your own your pace.
 
Each devotion has passages from the Gospel of Luke as Schumacher invites you to read and think with him about the story of Jesus and how He is a “powerful and compassionate, faithful and surprising companion in our trials”.
 
Each chapter concludes with a couple of reflection points and a generous amount of room to journal thoughts or prayers as you read.
 
While this is a book on grieving the loss of an unborn child/children, the Gospel remains centre stage throughout. Schumacher reminds us that God is Sovereign and cares for us, and in His great mercy, He sent He Son to do away with sin and death, and that those who put their trust in Christ can look forward to that great Day when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

 This book was sent to me by The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review

“Christ Our Hope in Life and Death”

What does miscarriage mean for Christian men? Ours, by Eric Schumacher, brings Biblical comfort for men grieving miscarriage.

Biblical Precision and Tender Care

Having experienced 3 miscarriages, Schumacher writes with Biblical precision and tender care. The devotional is written around the book of Luke. This book, like Luke, opens with the fact that God knows about our specific sorrows and suffering. “A book about Jesus opens with a story about a couple that could not have children.” What a profound note!

The book goes on to tackle subjects such as grief, uncertainty, and trust. I was most surprised at Chapter 5, that speaks of our need for repentance. Schumacher knows we must honor Christ in our miscarriage, but admits we sometimes make mistakes in our coping. Lashing out in angry words, demanding too much of our loved ones, envy, bitterness, and anger are all sins that must be confessed.

Christ Our Hope in Life and Death

Discussion questions and prayer prompts are included at the end of each chapter. At the back of the book are several appendices, including Understanding the Medical Side of Miscarriage by Jenn Hesse, How to Grieve by Brian Croft, Loving Your Wife: Nate’s Story by Nate Wilbert. The proper end of the book closes with Jesus’ promise of peace.

This book is a must-read for men who have experienced miscarriage. Wives will understand the unique struggles their husbands experience. Pastors and leaders will learn how to minister with compassion. And Christ will be championed as our hope in life and death.

I received a media copy of Ours and this is my honest review.

“Much Needed and Incredibly Helpful”

Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage is the latest book by author and pastor, Eric Schumacher. This book is the first of its kind, at least to my knowledge, as it addresses the topic of miscarriage with men as the intended audience. Ours is the companion book to Abbey Wedgeworth’s helpful volume, Held. Held was a great comfort to me as I experienced a miscarriage early last year and I wish Ours would have been available because as I’ve read it recently, I’ve found it to be incredibly helpful.

Ours includes 31 brief devotionals to help men as they process the grief of miscarriage. In the book, Schumacher uses the book of Luke to help readers understand the compassion of Jesus for those who are hurting. Each devotional points readers to Jesus and concludes with space for journaling. The exterior of the book is aesthetically pleasing. The interior includes a bookmark which may seem like a small detail but it is one that demonstrates much care for those who are grieving as it may be hard for them to keep track of where they are in the book. Schumacher and his wife, Jenny, are no stranger to the grief of miscarriage as they’ve experienced it 4 times. Schumacher writes with tenderness and compassion for those who are suffering. As a woman, I’m grateful that I was able to find many resources that pointed me to Christ during my miscarriage. I’m grateful that Ours now exists to do the same for men (and ultimately help the women they love).

I received Ours compliments of The Good Book Company in exchange for my honest review.

“Incredibly Helpful”

Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage is the latest book by author and pastor, Eric Schumacher. This book is the first of its kind, at least to my knowledge, as it addresses the topic of miscarriage with men as the intended audience. Ours is the companion book to Abbey Wedgeworth’s helpful volume, Held. Held was a great comfort to me as I experienced a miscarriage early last year and I wish Ours would have been available because as I’ve read it recently, I’ve found it to be incredibly helpful.

Ours includes 31 brief devotionals to help men as they process the grief of miscarriage. In the book, Schumacher uses the book of Luke to help readers understand the compassion of Jesus for those who are hurting. Each devotional points readers to Jesus and concludes with space for journaling. The exterior of the book is aesthetically pleasing. The interior includes a bookmark which may seem like a small detail but it is one that demonstrates much care for those who are grieving as it may be hard for them to keep track of where they are in the book. Schumacher and his wife, Jenny, are no stranger to the grief of miscarriage as they’ve experienced it 4 times. Schumacher writes with tenderness and compassion for those who are suffering. As a woman, I’m grateful that I was able to find many resources that pointed me to Christ during my miscarriage. I’m grateful that Ours now exists to do the same for men (and ultimately help the women they love).

I received Ours compliments of The Good Book Company in exchange for my honest review.