Sitting here, watching the sun glistening through the early fall leaves of the trees and listening to the birds early morning concert, I suddenly remembered the same scenery from two weeks ago, where I did not realize that the sun had sent its rays or that the birds were singing. Two weeks ago, a dark cloud had settled over my world, and inside of me there was no hope, just doom.

Was to put an end to my life the only way out? And how would I do it? A happy melody interrupted my thoughts (it was my phone ringtone), and I decided to give it a try and see if the person on the other end of the line would change my mind about life.

“Krista,” it was my friend Marlene, upbeat as always. “If you want to, I can bring you my book and you can read it.”

I knew that my friend had been working on a book, titled How to Give Your Kids A Lift. But should I read it right now? My kids were grown up and out of the house. What good would it do me?

“Sure,” I answered. “Bring it over. I should be home in about ten minutes.”
Little did I know that this book would change my outlook on life. Page by page I read through it, thinking about it, contemplating it. When I turned to the last page it was clear to me that this book is written for everyone, with children or without.
Since I read this book I have been a more positive and happier person.
This book is well written and very clear in its teachings.
Marlene Harper has created a work for everyone and for generations to come.

In recent years, I’ve noticed that families and extended families are becoming more and more dispersed. As I look at my own family, we no longer have the human connections with one another that we had a generation ago. I have a brother that lives in one state, a sister that lives in another, and nieces and nephews that are scattered throughout the United States. All three of my children live outside the United States.

Today, we have social media; however, social media is no substitute for one on one, face to face human interaction. I believe these factors are contributing to the increasing suicide rate. Everyone has an innate human need to feel loved and wanted. We cannot live in isolation. We all need to do more to reach out to others, especially our military service members who have sacrificed so much for us. As a former military officer, I know what the horrors of war can do to someone.

Marlene Harper’s new book, How to Give Your Kids A Lift is a timely discourse on how to overcome depression and suicidal thoughts. I recommend it to anyone with children or families that live a distance.