Marcy Gregg - Blank Canvas: The Amazing Story of a Woman Who Awoke from a Coma to a Life She Couldn’t Remember

Visit Tyndale online at tyndale.com.

Visit Tyndale Momentum online at tyndalemomentum.com.

Visit the authors website at marcygreggart.com.

Tyndale, Tyndales quill logo, Tyndale Momentum, and the Tyndale Momentum logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Ministries. Tyndale Momentum is a nonfiction imprint of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois.

Blank Canvas: The Amazing Story of a Woman Who Awoke from a Coma to a Life She Couldnt Remember

Copyright 2022 by Marcy Gregg. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of Marcy Gregg copyright Robert W. Larsen. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of paint stroke copyright Yevgen Romanenko/Getty Images. All rights reserved.

Interior photograph of flowers in front of wall by Mona Eendra on Unsplash.

Interior photographs are the property of their respective copyright holders and used with permission. Daughters wedding Amy Weison Photography; Expressions of Joy gallery show 2015 Michael Hernandez/Capture Happy; family portrait Jessica Shumaker/JessicaSchuPhotography.com; Marcy working in studio 2019 Robbie Larsen Photography; wall by Mona Eendra on Unsplash; all other images are from the authors personal collection.

Designed by Dean H. Renninger

Edited by Deborah King

The author gratefully acknowledges Katelyn Beaty for her role in shaping this manuscript.

Published in association with the literary agency of Punchline Agency LLC.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the (NASB) New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked AMPC are taken from the Amplified Bible, copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Tyndale House Publishers at , or call 1-855-277-9400.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

ISBN 978-1-4964-5037-1

Build: 2022-03-16 11:17:15 EPUB 3.0

For Dev, the love of my life

whos been by my side before, during, and after.

I havent met Marcy yet, but after reading the pages of this book, I can imagine what our first coffee date together will be like. I can see her sitting across from me, telling me this story (the one youre holding in your hands right now), and pointing out the faithfulness of God woven throughoutlike intricate golden threads that hold it all together. I can imagine her selflessness and her bravery. I can imagine the ways shed push me to keep going on a day when I feel like giving up.

Thats what it will feel like as you sit down to read this compelling, cant-put-down story about the sacredness of second chances: as if youre having a coffee date with a new-yet-trusted friend.

We talk about those second chances all the time, but its rare that a story so beautifully illustrates what it looks like to bank on themday after day, hour by hour, moment to moment. Marcy lives in the second chance, and she inspires her readers to step in fully to the life that is waiting for them.

In our culture today, it is far too easy to check out of our own lives and lose ourselves in the lives of people we dont know. It has never been more tempting to numb ourselves by becoming a spectator of other peoples stories, or to allow our own pain to define us for the long haul. But thats not the answer, Marcy reminds us. If youre feeling tired and just wanting to check out, these pages will give you a better route to take.

This is the kind of book that will remind you how the Lords mercy is new each morning. Its a book that will call you to awake from slumber and look around at your one life to ask some hard questions: How can I be present within this day? Regardless of my past, how can I show up to build into my future?

Marcy doesnt claim to have all the answers, and thats honestly one of the most refreshing elements of her storytelling. Throughout the pages of this book, she clings to God, prays honest prayers, and finds the strength each day to keep showing up. Shes always pointing to something bigger than herself, and thats the takeaway youll find yourself wanting to pocket again and again. She takes the blank canvas given to heras we all mustand she simply decides to paint a life upon it that is a vibrant reflection of his glory.

I pray the words on these pages will serve as a fresh cloak of inspiration draped over your tired spirit. I pray they will show you that God is present in the hard, and hes sovereign in the storms. More than anything, I pray this story will shake you awake to the life you have right in front of you. That instead of choosing to check out, you will start to ask yourself: what would it look like to relentlessly check in to my life? To show up and claim it, despite not knowing what the future holds?

You have a blank canvas sitting right in front of you. It might be time to do something with it.

Hannah Brencher
author of Fighting Forward andCome Matter Here

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

I gazed around the gallery in sheer wonderment. The gray skies and gentle patter of raindrops against the windows stood in stark contrast to the warm, welcoming lights of the hall, its pristine white walls blanketed in large canvases generously layered with oil paint in various hues, some vibrantly contrasted, others subtle and etherealbut all purposefully mixed and chosen to accomplish the final composition. The click of my heels against the dark concrete floor echoed throughout the empty space as I slowly took in each of the brightly colored works of artmy art.

In less than an hour, the gallery would be filled with the familiar faces of family and friends, all gathering to celebrate my first solo show: Expressions of Joy.

What a perfect name, I mused, picking up one of the beautifully printed cards the gallery had created for tonights receptionthirty-five exact miniatures of the bright, expansive canvases that graced the wallsmore than a year of passion, dedication, and inspiration captured in pigment and oil.

I took a deep breath and smiled. It was one of the happiest moments Id experienced, building on the many joy-filled hours Id spent in the studio, bringing this show to lifethe crisp, slightly citrusy scent of linseed oil permeating the air, light pouring in through the windows, the soft, cushiony feel of the Berber fibers beneath my bare feet, my hands and apron flecked with various hues of yellow, blue, orange, red, and green. I never felt more alive than I did when I was painting. It was almost like a form of worshipa beautiful, pure, spontaneous expression of joy