Kate Merrick - And still she laughs: defiant joy in the depths of suffering

Kates book is as comfortable as a coffee date with your best friend but as spiritually insightful as getting a masters in theology. She weaves together the stories of unsung women in the Bible with her own hard-won lessons of grace in the midst of suffering. These pages are a reminder that the story of Gods love in the world has been, and continues to be, written through the stories of our lives, especially the ones we would never have written for ourselves.

Katherine Wolf, coauthor of Hope Heals

Christians tend to be known for their answers. Im so proud of my friend Kate, for being honest about the questions that come with grief. She invites us to join her as she wrestles with God and goes looking for hope. And it needs to be said: Kate Merrick can straight-up write.

Jamie Tworkowski, founder of To Write Love on Her Arms and author of If You Feel Too Much

Kate Merrick is one of those women that I always wish I had more time withher honesty, sincerity, and messy straightforwardness are different, in the very best way. Her book, And Still She Laughs, is the same way. Its one of those books I will keep coming back to for truth and inspiration.

Lindsey Nobles, COO of the IF:Gathering

Where do you turn when your worst nightmare comes true? How do you hold onto faith? With spunk and vibrant honesty, Kate shares her story of suffering and lossand her incredible journey to a great joy restored. Whatever pain life has brought you, inside these pages waits your holy invitation to laugh loud once more.

Allison Trowbridge, author of Twenty-Two

And Still She Laughs is the terrifying, tearful, heartbreaking, heart-healing, humorous, and definitive true story of survival and triumph. Amid an unimaginable journey of love and loss, Kate Merrick shares the beautiful and brief life of her beloved daughter, Daisy, and her victory over the cancer that claimed the mortality of her precious eight year old.

Kathy Ireland, chair of Kathy Ireland Worldwide

And Still She Laughs moves the reader beyond surface talk and plumbs to the depths of Kates heart and Gods word to present the reality of how God works in the dark edges and billowing sorrows of life to bring healing, wholeness, and yesjoy! With rank honesty, touches of humor, and deep insights, Kate shares the gemstones mined from the dark caverns of her life. No Bible passage is merely skimmed or receives an honorable mention. It is obvious that each story has been hashed out, thought out, and lived out in Kates life. Personally, I plan on keeping my office stacked with this book to share with the women who visit me to talk. It is a compelling, insightful, and, at times, engagingly raw account of how true spirituality is lived out in a fallen world. I loved every word on every page!

Cheryl Brodersen, author of When a Woman Chooses to Forgive

Kate Merrick not only has the extraordinary ability to share about suffering in a way that gives a voice to our own, but also to point us toward the one hope for it. With wisdom, wit, and refreshing honesty, Kate invites us to a faith without illusions, displayed in the stories of scripture and rooted in a crucified yet risen savior.

Tim Chaddick, founding pastor of RealityLA, lead pastor for Reality Church London, and author of Better and The Truth about Lies

Kate Merrick is a living, breathing example of how we can all go from lamenting to laughing again.

Esther Fleece, author of No More Faking Fine

If youve endured pain and trauma, you will know how lonely loss can make you feel. Where do we go? What do we do? I love how Kate boldly and honestly dares us to laugh in moments when we feel unable to. As her story unfolds, she reveals the hope that is found behind pain, beauty in the midst of ashes, and laughter that is heard in the wake of sadness. She, like Paul the Apostle, teaches us to scream in the midst of loss, O death where is your victory?

Bianca Juarez Olthoff, chief storyteller for A21 and bestselling author of Play with Fire

If there was ever a title that captured the life and witness of the author, its my dear friends book: And Still She Laughs. This book ministered to me so deeply. Guys, I recommend you buy this for a woman you love and then ask to borrow it!

Dave Lomas, author of The Truest Thing About You

2017 by Kate Merrick

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Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. Nelson Books and Thomas Nelson are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996, 2004 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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Epub Edition February 2017 ISBN 9780718093099

ISBN 978-0-7180-9309-9 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

ISBN 978-0-7180-9281-8

Names: Merrick, Kate, 1974- author.

Title: And still she laughs : defiant joy in the depths of suffering / Kate Merrick.

Description: Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 2017.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016036961 | ISBN 9780718092818

Subjects: LCSH: Children--Death--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Consolation. | Mothers--Religious life. | Merrick, Kate, 1974

Classification: LCC BV4907 .M47 2017 | DDC 248.8/66092--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016036961

Printed in the United States of America

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For Britt: We did it. You and me.

We survived, and I love you more than ever.

She is clothed with strength and dignity,

and she laughs without fear of the future.

Proverbs 31:25

T heres a birds nest just outside my house filled with a family of chicks. I love to watch whats going on in the life of my bird family. Little bald babies make little