What was your first impression?

The book is small and attractive and could be given as a gift. Not
too long, pleasant and quick to read. The full title is "Safe in the Arms
of God: Truth from Heaven about the Death of a Child

What's it about?

The biblical reasons why we can be sure that all children who die before
or during birth (including terminations and miscarriages) or as young children,
go straight to heaven. He focuses on Psalm 139 to point out that right
from the moment of conception, these are real babies and not just a mass of
cells (which is a view encouraged by medical staff to help you get over the
loss). I had certainly tried to "get over" my losses more quickly
by pushing away the thought that I had lost a baby each time and thinking of
them more as just foetuses.

What did you like about it?

Very well structured, lots of quotes from the Bible to support the reasoning,
written in a compassionate, pastoral tone. Reading the book has led me
to give names to the two babies I miscarried. This is something I'd always
resisted doing before, but it has been really helpful. In view of the
fact that when we get to heaven we will meet our lost children, I thought it
would be nice for them to have names so they will be able to introduce themselves!

What didn't you like?

Several pages of ads at the back of the book for author's other books. This
just felt a bit inappropriate.

What will you still remember a year from now?

This has been a book that has affected me a lot even though it only took
a few days to read. I'd always sort of hoped that my two lost little ones
would be in heaven, and that one day I would meet them, now I am certain of
it!

Who would you recommend this book to?

Anyone who has suffered the loss of a young child through any circumstances,
or who knows someone who has. The book includes a challenge for non-Christians,
as if we hope to see our lost children in heaven we have to be sure of going
there ourselves! But there is a "warning" about this approach in the
first chapter. If you are thinking of giving it to a friend who is not already
a Christian, read it yourself first!

Can you give us a couple of good quotes from the book?

"Yes, all children who die before they reach a state of moral awareness
and culpability in which they understand their sin and corruption - so that
their sins are deliberate - are graciously saved eternally by God through the
work of Jesus Christ. They are counted as elect by sovereign choice because
they are innocent of wilful sin, rebellion, and unbelief, by which works they
would be justly condemned to eternal punishment."

"We need to remind ourselves that God not only is able to heal a broken
heart, He delights in healing broken hearts and mending shattered lives. He
can reinstill in us an enthusiasm for what remains ahead. He wants us to live
in renewed joy and the hope of eternal life. He wants us to fully embrace the
plans and purposes He has for us as we live out the remainder of our time on
this earth."

John MacArthur's website : www.gty.org.uk

review by Linda