Ruby Dawn and Forgiveness

Posted on: January 30, 2012 by Sandra Orchard

I’m excited to share with you today a bit about Ruby Dawn, a new release from Raquel Byrnes, a fellow writer with Hartline Literary Agency.

The book just released so I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing how Raquel handled some elements similar to those in my upcoming release. (i.e. forgiveness, a past in youth detention, and a drug sting).

Here’s the back cover blurb:

A Painful Past.

A former street kid, Ruby now reaches out to runaways through her medical clinic in the worst part of the city, but her escalating battle with a gang leader puts that in jeopardy.

A Love Returns.

Cavalier, a risk-taker, charming… Ruby’s first love is now on the right side of the law and the center of a dangerous DEA sting involving her clinic. Tom’s disappearance ten years ago broke her heart and rattled her faith. As their romance relights, memories of what it costs to love him flood her with fear.

A Desperate Plan.

Ruby’s battle with the gang ignites a firestorm of danger, and a pattern of lies from within her own camp emerges. With Tom’s life in the balance and her world cast in shadows, can Ruby trust God as she once did…or has she strayed too far, for too long to ever return?

So… here’s our discussion question for today…

Ruby once believed that God could make incredible changes in people, but when she encounters a dangerous person from her past, her faith is put to the test.

Your Turn: Has someone hurt you in the past returned and asked for forgiveness? Did you find it difficult to open your heart to them again? Is there a scripture verse that spoke to you?

6 Comments

Loree Huebner says:

January 30, 2012 at 7:38 am

I haven’t experienced any one from my past coming to ask forgiveness. I have an old friend that I’ve made peace with…she hurt me pretty bad about 15 years ago. She never said she was sorry. I had forgiven her a long time ago. I can now see her with out getting all red faced and angry. It took a long time for that to happen. We are not friends any longer, but we see each other around town occasionally. It’s nice to say “hi” without having to avoid her.

Reply
- Sandra Orchard says:
  
  January 30, 2012 at 5:47 pm
  
  That’s brings up an excellent point Loree. That being able to forgive someone else even if they’re not sorry frees our spirit from the emotions dragging it down.
  
  Reply
Amy Leigh Simpson says:

January 30, 2012 at 5:53 pm

It is always difficult to trust your heart to someone who has a track record of stomping on it. My current wip addesses this issue. If we open our heart to the one who hurt us does that make us foolish? Reckless? Or maybe it makes us see how much we all need forgiveness and grace. And how God can help us take another leap of faith.

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- Sandra Orchard says:
  
  January 30, 2012 at 6:05 pm
  
  The idealist in me hopes it’s the latter, but unfortunately if the hurt was abusive… we need to be cautious
  
  Reply
Kav says:

January 31, 2012 at 12:24 am

You pose such hard questions, Sandra! I think forgiveness is a process. At least for this frail human. Past hurts, well hurt, and while I understand the doctrine in my mind I sometimes wrestle with applying the concept in extreme circumstances.

I’m at the point with one individual where I’m praying to forgive but it’s not totally there in my heart yet. I used to beat myself up over that, but now I realize that at least I’m embracing the process. I pray daily for the spirit of forgiveness for this person and if I ever start thinking negative thoughts about him I say a pray for him. Is my heart really in it? Honestly, no, but I hope that by doing these steps it will eventually happen.

Reply
- Sandra Orchard says:
  
  January 31, 2012 at 12:55 am
  
  What a powerful testimony Kav. It sounds to me like you’re certainly heading in the right direction.
  
  Reply