"The Tender Scar"

 How The Tender Scar came to be written....                      

            Here's the story behind the story--how The Tender Scar  was written. From the day after Cynthia's memorial service, I began "journaling."  This was usually in the form of emails to my family, friends, pastor as well as journal entries to myself and posthumous letters to Cynthia.  I collected all these, unedited and raw, in a folder labeled "Afterthoughts."  A few close friends read the collection and were touched.  One friend used the material to counsel new widows and widowers in his church.  I thought maybe I could do something more with it, but didn't know what.

          God greatly blessed me a second time by bringing another wonderful woman into my life.  Shortly after Kay and I were married, an editor recommended that I attend a Christian Writers' Conference to get an idea of how to proceed to publication of this material.  Kay and I attended our first conference in the fall of 2003.  It was there that I first came under the influence of dedicated Christian writers and editors who encouraged and inspired me to go forward with my writing.  I was drawn closer to God there in the mountains of New Mexico and came home with a determination to turn my journaling into a book.

            I polished the material, but when I took away the raw edge of emotions revealed in my original writing, the material lost a lot of what made it special in the first place.  Finally, Kay helped me see that I needed to use my original thoughts as a jumping off point for practical comments and advice, adding scriptures and prayers.  It meant a lot more work, and I resisted, but she and the Lord won out.  Thus was born the book in its present form.  Kay suggested the title The Tender Scar,  I fell in love with it and the publisher didn't change it. 

The Tender Scar:  Life After The Death of a Spouse is being published by Kregel Publishers, and is now available.    You can order the book at Amazon.com  by clicking on the picture of the book to the left.  You will also find it at ChristianBook.com, BarnesandNoble.com or ask your bookseller to order it. 

        Many people who have lost spouses and loved ones have commented on how helpful the book has been for them.  It is my prayer that God will continue to use it to minister to others in the future.  If that happens when it is read, it is just another instance of His ability to take a tragedy and use it to His glory. 

READ AN EXCERPT

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WHAT OTHERS SAY:

“What wise words from one who's been there.  Combining personal letters, notes and emails with thoughtful and compassionate insights, Richard Mabry gives us an excellent guide through the grief process. Invaluable.”

—Gayle Roper

Author of Allah’s Fire

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“When it comes to grieving for a spouse, no healing journey is the same, but Richard Mabry offers practical help from his own loss. Full of compassion and solid truth, the book is a reminder that God is  beside you in the darkest of days.”

—Jan Coleman

Author, After the Locusts, Woman Behind the Mask

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“Richard Mabry writes with practicality and so much heart, felt through his intimate journal entries. Every chapter offered new understanding of my own grief journey. I discovered fresh insights into all I had experienced four years ago when my husband of forty-three years died. A ‘MUST READ,’ whether it has been four days, four months, or four years! It WILL help!!”

—Lawanna McIver Field,

Pastor's wife for 30 years

Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas