Trading Fathers: Forgiving Dad, Embracing God
A heart rending memoir, Trading Fathers documents the story of Karen Rabbitt and her journey from brokenness to wholeness. Beginning with her conception through the trauma of marital rape, Karen’s story continues by revealing the sexual abuse experienced at four years old at the hand of her father.
The story begins with the ripple effect on Karen’s childhood and on her social, mental, and emotional security following the abuse. Just before her marriage to Jerry Rabbitt, Karen becomes a Christian and immerses herself in the freedom and healing offered by Jesus Christ.
Far from her expectations of immediate perfection, however, Karen continues to experience shame, depression, and emotional instability. After her second emotional crisis in her twenties, God challenges Karen to do the seemingly impossible: forgive her father. Readers will identify with her denial, depression, anger, and when she finally makes peace with the consequences of her father’s abuse.
The special focus of her story is wrestling with God: “Where were you when I was abused?” As she sorts out the differences between her heavenly and earthly fathers, Karen learns to see God as her true Papa and experiences lasting freedom from the bondage of abuse.