The Shaming of the Strong

The Shaming of the Strong by Sarah Williams

A meeting of more than 50 people at St Andrew's United Reformed Church, Canterbury, Kent, in February 2006 heard how the short life of a disabled unborn child had deepened a Christian family's faith. Mrs Sarah Williams spoke about the content of her moving new book The Shaming of the Strong.

She was told that Cerian, her unborn daughter, had a life-threatening deformity. Although opposed to abortion, Mr and Mrs Williams found their pro-life views were tested, and considered termination. They prayed and, as Mrs Williams writes: "[we] felt God the Father speak a message to our hearts as clearly as if He had been talking with us in person. 'Here is a sick and dying child. Will you love it for Me and care for it until it dies?'"'

Mrs Williams continued with the pregnancy and the whole family built a relationship with Cerian, loving her in the womb. Sarah learnt something of the depth of God's love for mankind, shown by His love for this unborn child who, to the rest of the world, had little or no value, an item to be disposed of. The girl died, without pain, shortly before she was due to be born.

Mrs Williams quoted St Paul's first letter to the Corinthians: "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no-one may boast before Him." (1:27-29)

She said: "Cerian was, by the world's definition, a weak thing, but the beauty and completeness of her personhood had nullified the value system to which I had subscribed for so long." Through Cerian, Mrs Williams realised that God loves us and values us simply because we are and we exist, not because of what we do or achieve.

After speaking, Mrs Williams answered questions from the audience. At the meeting, Vic and Pat Hollinrake, who have a disabled child, played music and gave testimony.

A spokesman for SPUC Evangelicals said: "Many ask, "How can there be a caring God when there is so much suffering and pain in the world?" This book reveals how Sarah and her family, rather than denying God's existence or blaming Him, actually received His help and strength. This book also powerfully challenges Christians and non-Christians alike in their attitudes and response to disability and abortion."

The Shaming of the Strong is published by Kingsway with the ISBN of 1 84291179 1. It can be bought online from the Equipping the Church website. It is also available from Christian bookshops.