Book Review: God's Battered Child

"God's Battered Child" is a wonderful and inspirational book by April Lorier. This isn't fiction, but a true account of April's life as an abused child and how she used her experience to do Christian ministry and become a public leader.

God had a provision for April Lorier, but as a severely abused child, that was difficult to grasp. She was a pastor's daughter and knew God from an early age. Her mother was abusive and her father passive. She was called the "bad child" and her sister Janine was favored for reasons she could not understand until well in her adult years.

Having ADHD did not make it easier. This escalated her mother's rage. Her mother had also been abused and had no coping skills and transferred what she had experienced onto April. The beatings from her mother and her father's passive behavior did not make her feel loved as a child. How could God love her as He did others, if her parents didn't even love her?

April's mother expected perfection. April went to school and came home to do endless chores, while her mother was often sick in bed. If there was one wrinkle in the clothing she ironed, her mother would make her sprinkle them with water and do every piece of clothing over again. She had no friends as she had no time for them. She felt isolated and abandoned, even by God. She looked to Him to save her from the abuse, but still it continued. She had faith God could save, but lost faith he could save "her".

April was ecstatic when she got to visit her Grandma. Grandma always had her favorite gingerbread cookies, but more than anything she savored her Grandma's words... saying that she prayed for angels to watch over April. April didn't understand exactly what those words meant for a long time, but they held great meaning.

April became "ill" during her childhood and was diagnosed with epilepsy. One of the "angels", a doctor, appeared later in her life to explain she did not have epilepsy and "why". This was a life-changing moment. But, during her childhood years and when she was "sick", she got some of the attention she badly needed, but only as each "episode" appeared. Her illness was not to be discussed as the family did not want to be shamed and especially within the church. April was hidden in a closet when her mother had piano students in their home. Her mother, as well as April herself, had great musical and vocal abilities. Appearances were everything to her mother, even if that meant living a different life within the church than what went on in their home.

Her first marriage came at a very young age and with that came more abuse. April's adult life was filled with a few marriages, chaos, crisis, including rape and sodomy and the inability to believe God loved her. She also had children and began to question her own parenting and coping skills.

Secrets about her father came out one by one, which were upsetting and also explained a few things. His past also influenced the husband and father he became.

In retrospect, April saw the "angels" that God did indeed send into her life, the ones her Grandma often talked about - her best friend Patty she met in childhood, a teacher who was encouraging and uplifting and called April the story-teller, overlooking her "lies", the doctor who told her she did not have epilepsy and why she needed to make changes in her life, the God-mother and other people who filled in the gaps that had left her very empty. Even the "way" her mother died became a source of faith, as her mother always said she never wanted to die a slow and painful death.

There was a period of time April had to break contact with her mother in order to discover herself. This was her time for recovery! Her mother was not pleased with this, but it proved to be a great blessing. April met with her mother later on and gained closure, yet was surprised to see how frail and old her mother now looked. After her mother's death, she discovered parts of her mother she'd never known, hidden within an old trunk - she discovered the love her mother had for her, but could not express. She found pieces of her mother's life that made her understand her mother more. A huge gathering attended April's mother's funeral and she saw another part of her mother who gave to others what she could not give to April. Her mother had given to those in need and led many to Christ.

There are so many twists and turns to this story. It would be difficult to sum it all up in this article. April's story isn't fiction. It's the true account of her life and how she went from a battered child to public leadership and ministry. She is the founder of C.O.P.E., a non-profit organization formed for the retraining of abusive and neglectful parents and also for public education. Her testimony before the California State Legislature helped to promote the enactment of the Mandatory Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Law in 1974.

Even as a writer, I find myself faltering for words to describe the impact, the profoundness and the inspiration I received from this book. God had a provision for April Lorier and it's abundantly clear in her book. She is a true gift to this world and to God's Kingdom. God "re-defined" what she had experienced and been, to who He wanted her to be.

"God's Battered Child" can be purchased on Amazon or on her blog at http://aprillorier.blogspot.com/. April Lorier's words will linger long after you've turned the last page.