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Dr. Edith Eger's Story - Excerpt From Getting Through What You Can't Get Over
Dr. Edith Eger's Story - Excerpt From Getting Through What You Can't Get Over
Dr. Edith Eger's Story - Excerpt From Getting Through What You Can't Get Over
GETTING
THROUGH
WHAT
YOU CANT
GET
OVER
STORIES, TIPS, AND INSPIRATION
TO HELP YOU MOVE PAST
YOUR PAIN INTO LASTING FREEDOM
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Evangelical Christian
Publishers Association
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Chapter 1
VALLEY WA L KE R
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A N I TA A G E R S B R O O K S
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GE TTI N G TH ROU G H W H A T Y O U C A N T G E T O V E R
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A N I TA A G E R S B R O O K S
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A N I TA A G E R S B R O O K S
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Edie let me sob until there were no more tears to rip from
my tattered soul. She rubbed my hands, and with salty pools at
the edges of her own blue eyes, she clucked comforting words
over me. There, there, my child. There, there.
The waitress approached our table cautiously. Would you
ladies like something more to drink? Its nearing lunchtime.
She glanced toward the wall clock. Would you care to order
another meal?
I looked at my half-eaten omelet but pushed it farther away.
The thought of food repulsed me. Refusing to show our server
my puffy face, I looked at the buttons on her blouse and said, Id
like some more iced tea, please.
Sure, sweetie. I hated the pity dripping off her words.
Edie waved her away with a hand of dismissal. Just more
vater.
The waitress must have read the message that food or drink
was not our main objective. She dipped her head in a show of
respect and said, Sure. Then she scurried away.
Edie wasted no time in moving the conversation away from
my meltdown. Let me tell you of another event in Auschwitz.
I sniffled and nodded my head for her to continue.
Somehow, Mengele learned of my aspiration to become a
great ballerina. He summoned me before him. He forced me
to dance for him and his top officials. It pained me greatly to
entertain the monster who had stolen the lives of my mother and
father. The beast who had destroyed many innocent people. But
if I did not, I knew I vould die. A part of me velcomed death, but
something stronger fought its arrival.
My head bobbed up and down. I understood her love-hate
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vhy the guards allowed it. But the vomen with whom Id shared
my loaf of bread vere given permission to make a chair with their
arms. I do not know how long they carried me, but it was enough
to allow me to regain a parcel of strength. Enough for me to
make it to the edge of the city.
It was there I collapsed.
Overcome with starvation and exhaustion, I could push my
body no more. They thought I had expired, and so I vas thrown
onto a pile of dead bodies at the edge of the street. I could not
protest. Veakness overpowered me so I could not shift away from
the putrid odor of rotted flesh.
I swiped my cheek with a paper napkin, and Edie cleared the
gravel from her voice box. Her voice had softened to just above a
whisper when she spoke again. Vhatever eternity vaited for me,
I could no longer question.
I swallowed hard at the instant dryness filling my mouth.
Soon after, vhen the Allies arrived, an American soldier
patrolling in his Jeep spotted the slightest movement of my
finger in the pile. He stopped immediately, got out, and pulled
me to safety. This is vhy I came to America. He is vhy I now
call it my home. He is vhy I became a doctor of psychology.
She pierced me with a lasered look, and her voice strengthened.
He is the one God sent so I could live. There vas purpose yet to
be fulfilled, and my ultimate destiny could come only through
my darkness.
I marveled at the confidence and peace echoing beneath her
words. I couldnt imagine surviving such loss and yet gaining
such deep hope.
She cocked her head at me, as if she could read my thoughts.
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When she spoke, I was almost sure she had. You might vonder
how my experience could possibly speak to yours.
Im sure I nodded the affirmative.
You know the Twenty-Third Psalm. Yes?
I nodded again.
So you are avare of the vording, Yea, though I valk through
the valley of the shadow of death. Are you not?
Yes, of course.
You must pay attention to the intent of His words. Notice
it does not say, Slow down. It does not say, Stop. It does not
say, Pitch a tent. It does not say, Build a house. It says, Valk.
She leaned as far as her slight body would allow over the
table toward me. In the darkness, you may feel you cannot valk.
When you are very tired, you will believe you cannot go on. But
these are lies. You can. And you must. You must place one foot
forward each day, taking one tiny step at a time. Do not vorry
that you cannot see far ahead of you. Simply step.
I could feel the passion in her words releasing adrenaline into
my muscles.
Vhen you think you vill collapse from exhaustion, you
remember me. See my face in your mind, as you see me now.
Think of my story. And then valk. Vhen you are sure you have
no strength left, place one foot on the ground in front of you.
Just one in that moment. And as you remember vhat my friends
did for me, remember that God offers His strength to carry you
farther than you can go on your own.
She reached across and gripped both of my hands in hers but
never turned her intense sky-blue gaze away from my eyes.
I promise you. One day you vill be surprised to find that you
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stepped out of the valley of darkness into the light once again. It
vill stop you vhere you stand in that moment of clarity. You vill
turn and look back into the valley, but the light will separate you
from the dark hurts of your past.
Though it is hard to believe now, you vill smile once again.
The flavor of foods vill return to your palette. You vill breathe
deep of the scents in the vind. You vill brush the velvet texture
of newly blushed rose petals. The serenade of birds will sing joy
to your soul.
She drew an inspirational picture, but I agreed with heras
much as my heart ached for everything she described, I could
not fathom a day I would ever feel a breath of happiness again.
But I was wrong.
My breakfast with Dr. Edie Eger lasted all day. I drove her
to the airport for her late afternoon flight. While we stood
outside the terminal, she laid her hands on my cheeks as if she
were touching fragile butterfly wings. There is a vounded little
girl inside of you who needs a mother. You mother her. And
then she hugged me close in a final good-bye.
If I looked the way I felt, my sobs appeared as if they belonged
in a six-year-old little girls body, though I was a grown woman.
But even then, I knew this day had changed me. I would never be
the same. It would take much time. I would endure many more
days of grief. But I would remember the woman from Auschwitz
who walked. And because of her, I would do the same.
I wont lie to you: it took many excruciating steps, and I
often imagined Edies death march to get through what I knew
I would never get over. But one tiny inch at a time, there came
a day when I experienced what she promised. I cant tell you
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Insider Insights
Emotional Healing
Incorporate uplifting music into your healing plan. The
vibrations in song resonate with the chords in our souls,
so choose wisely. Pick soft melodies, words of praise
and gratitude, encouraging messages blanketed with
instrumental harmonies and empowering lyrics. All
of these will assist, as God transforms your mourning
into dancing. One of my favorite healing songs is Matt
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Spiritual Comfort
Remember that one of the names for the Holy Spirit
in the Greek is Paraclete. It means advocate, comforter,
encourager, or counselor (see the word Helper in the
scripture reference below). This aspect of Gods character
offers you counseling money cant buy. Jesus said in John
16:7, But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go
away. When I go away, I will send the Helper to you. If I
do not go away, the Helper will not come (ncv).
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever
you face trials of many kinds, because you know that
the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let
perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature
and complete, not lacking anything ( James 1:24).
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not
be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your
staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4 nlt).
Guided Prayer
Dear God,
Though the valley is black, in faith I trust You to shine
the way. Though I am weak, I praise You in advance for
lending me Your strength. Though I fear I will never get
through, I thank You for giving me the courage to believe.
By Your power, I will walk, taking one faith-filled step at a
time, until one day soon, You deliver me into the light.
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