This real-life Brady Bunch story is about what it means to endure the unthinkable---and still open one's heart to what's next. When two childhood friends die of cancer six weeks apart, the shared experience of loss brings their grieving spouses together. After months of late-night phone calls, family dinners, and countless dreams and tears, this unlikely pair builds a trust, a love, and a shared life. Told from alternating points of view, The Color of Rain illuminates the stepping-stones of healing that lead to a joyful new beginning for Michael and Gina Spehn and their five children. Like many who grieve, Michael and Gina had to choose to hope again. Along the way, they discovered that God can restore the darkest circumstances---and even from death, He can bring new life. Michael and Gina's gripping story of 'growing new hearts' will inspire readers not only to survive loss but also to receive the new courage, faith, and identity that God gives in the midst of tragedy.
The Color of Rain
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"It's so refreshing to hear people giving glory to God, even through trials and adversity. I'm sure it's not the story either of them would have written for themselves, but it's a beautiful story - and one I'd definitely recommend for anyone to read!"
"Their story is so powerful you will change how you think about life and how you go about your daily living."
"This is an inspiring story for any who have gone through a season of personal loss." - Elaine Raxon, CBA Retailers & Resources
"Michael and Gina personify the beauty that God can bring out of the ashes of sorrow."
- Heidi Strawser (Heidi's Ramblings, Reflections & Reviews)
"Their story is so powerful you will change how you think about life and how you go about your daily living."
- Jeff Carter (Points and Figures)
"This is an inspiring story for any who have gone through a season of personal loss." - Elaine Raxon, CBA Retailers & Resources
The Color of Rain is not only an instant best-seller, but also an instant classic, certain to be pressed into the hands of hundreds of thousands of grieving men and women by their closest friends. It is simply a profoundly moving guidebook to the Valley of the Shadow.
- Hugh Hewitt, Host of The Hugh Hewitt Radio Show
"Michael and Gina personify the beauty that God can bring out of the ashes of sorrow."
- Kathie Lee Gifford, Actress, Singer, Songwriter and co-host of the Today Show's Fourth Hour
About the Author
Michael Spehn is husband, father, high school basketball coach, and now author. He owns Spehn Photography and Design, and is co-creator and a presenter of First Manage Yourself Well, a national Christian leadership program. He is co-Founder of The New Day Foundation for Families a nonprofit organization created to help the families of young children who have lost a parent to cancer.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Loved the book! It was hard but REAL. I appreciated all the raw truth in their suffering. So many Christian books seem to only focus on their faith. Yet, in exposing themselves they were really showing God's grace in their lives. It is through adversity that He changes us. I think anyone who has experienced loss (not only of a spouse) will find applications in this book. While everyone's loss is unique, there are so many aspects that are universal and you find peace in not only identifying with those but seeing how God continues to work for good even in circumstances that by worldly standards are impossible to overcome. I am so thankful to both Gina and Michael for allowing us a glimpse of their lives.
On a personal level, I will share one "take-away" from the book. As I was read through Gina's saying good-bye to Matt I have to admit I was suddenly very envious. I was suddenly aware of how deeply affected I was by not getting to say good-bye to my 19-yr. old son Michael. I found there were feelings I was harboring that I didn't even know I had. Then, after a gut wrenching cry I was taken back to something the "youth pastor" said to Matt at Christmas service the day he died. . .and Matt's response. He "whispered, 'God bless you, Matt' to which Matt replied 'He has, he has.'" It was in that moment after recalling Matt's words that I realized that I too had been blessed by God by not getting to say good-bye to my son. After all, how could I? I thanked God for sparing me that pain that they endured.
So, thank you to both Gina and Michael. I will highly recommend this book to many people. May God continue to bless this family and allow the light of Jesus to shine through all they do!
On a personal level, I will share one "take-away" from the book. As I was read through Gina's saying good-bye to Matt I have to admit I was suddenly very envious. I was suddenly aware of how deeply affected I was by not getting to say good-bye to my 19-yr. old son Michael. I found there were feelings I was harboring that I didn't even know I had. Then, after a gut wrenching cry I was taken back to something the "youth pastor" said to Matt at Christmas service the day he died. . .and Matt's response. He "whispered, 'God bless you, Matt' to which Matt replied 'He has, he has.'" It was in that moment after recalling Matt's words that I realized that I too had been blessed by God by not getting to say good-bye to my son. After all, how could I? I thanked God for sparing me that pain that they endured.
So, thank you to both Gina and Michael. I will highly recommend this book to many people. May God continue to bless this family and allow the light of Jesus to shine through all they do!
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By TJ
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
So, first I want to say that this is not a book I would have ever picked up because I am not into reading about other's religious journeys. But I did order it since I am acquainted with this family and knew a little bit about this story. Gina and Michael, I should be mad because I started reading it at 10:00 PM thinking I would just get a couple of chapters in before going to sleep and then I was up reading until almost 4:00 AM. I literally couldn't stop and put it down. This story is heartbreaking but also inspiring. It is a story of hope for others in the same situation and I loved it. I was moved to tears with it's sadness, and joy with it's love for Matt, Cathy, the children, and ultimately, each other. I really liked the style of alternate chapters being their different voices. I will absolutely recommend it to others!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By HDS
Format:Hardcover
Love, loss, tragedy, and triumph. This wonderfully written story takes you on a roller coaster of emotion only to leave you smiling on the last page. For those of us who may be cynics, it restores faith and hope. A truly beautiful story...I loved it!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well written book
This is a very well written book that describes the pain and sadness of losing a close family member in 2 different families and how they worked through their grief and merged into... Read more
Published 21 days ago by the Book Reader
3.0 out of 5 stars
Gift
This was a gift for someone. I did not get any feedback from them that I will be able to post of this product.
Published 1 month ago by rev joe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring
An honest account of surviving the unimaginable losses of two spouses and blending of their respective young families. Read more
Published 1 month ago by K.K Ladera Ranch CA
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational
This was a great book that was easy to read. It tells the story wonderfully and is very inspirational. It brings out hope in bad situations.
Published 1 month ago by Patti Chadwick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review of Color of Rain
This is the best book I've read in years!! Such a wonderful Christian story. I wish their were more or them. Would make a great hallmark movie.
Published 1 month ago by Marcia Nowicki
5.0 out of 5 stars
A true story of hope
My daughter, Lisa, passed away on August 13, 2011, from inflammatory breast cancer that had metastasized to her bone and brain. Read more
Published 2 months ago by CYNTHIA N. REYNOLDS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very emotional story
I loved this true story and the way it turned out for all of them, I cried at the sad and happy parts!
Published 2 months ago by Jackie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring and helpful
This is a good story of two families with a faith in God, and how they grew individually and together through similar losses of a spouse. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Richard Wilson
4.0 out of 5 stars
helpful reading
i enjoyed reading this book. i am a widow and it is always helpful to read about how others have dealt with their grief and what was helpful to them.
Published 3 months ago by mother of 3
5.0 out of 5 stars
Saw the couple on "Huckabee"
My hubby is with Hospice for 7 months now. He has fought 4 different cancers the last 10 years, of chemo, radiation, etc. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Monique
