The Unwanted Gift

Description

Endorsements:

“The Unwanted Gift is a book designed to minister to broken and hurting hearts. It masterfully accomplishes that goal and much more. Tom Elliff bares his own heart and soul as he shares how he walked side by side with the love of his life through cancer and death. They did not ask for or desire this unwelcome intruder; but through it they saw afresh and anew God’s goodness, grace and glory. I will place this book in many hands in the future.”

—Daniel L. Akin

President and Professor of Preaching & Theology

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Tom Elliff is one of this generation’s great Christian statesmen. His writing is like his preaching—full of conviction and overflowing with compassion. In The Unwanted Gift, Elliff shares how to trust the Lord through life’s greatest trials. He presents his own story of his dear wife Jeannie’s struggle with cancer and brings the full complement of biblical truth to bear. This book will stir your heart as it strengthens your hope.”

—Jason K. Allen, PhD

President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Tom Elliff’s The Unwanted Gift is deep and inspiring as he candidly deals with the couple’s most prickly thorn—his wife’s terminal cancer. This book encourages all to embrace their unwanted gift or thorn as Paul did, knowing that God is still in control and will use all things for His purposes. Elliff provides guiding principles to pursue, taken from Second Corinthians 12, as we strive to be living illustrations of God’s grace and faithfulness in the midst of life’s most difficult trials.”

—Ginny Dent Brant

Cancer survivor

Author of Finding True Freedom

“The Unwanted Gift is a dynamic love story that is more than worthy of your time to read. It will move you to tears, to questions and to answers. Mostly, this book will move you to faith—faith to believe. Regardless of who you are or what you are going through in your life, this book is for you.”

—Dr. Ronnie Floyd

Senior Pastor, Cross Church

Immediate Past President, Southern Baptist Convention

“‘In spite of the presence of long-term problems, God’s intent is not that we merely endure life, but that in the deepest sense, we truly enjoy His presence in it.’ That’s the kind of truth we hear from Tom Elliff. Tom has waded in the deep waters of grief. He speaks from his own sadness, pointing us to the compassionate Savior. As one who has grieved deeply myself, I’ve been helped by the before, during and after telling of Tom and Jeannie’s story. I’ll be adding this book to my ‘help for the hurting’ stack.”

—Tim Grissom

Author

Senior Editor, FamilyLife

“Tom Elliff has been gifted by the Lord with the ability to teach biblical truth from the experiences of life. The homegoing of his precious Jeannie was filled with lessons he would rather not have learned at this time. But, in typical ‘Elliff’ fashion, he has put himself aside and uses his experience to teach us all how we should handle the ‘unwanted gift’ that will surely come our way. Read and be encouraged!”

—Ted Kersh

Bible Teacher, Equipped by His Word

“I read this book twice in its manuscript form—once to consider my endorsement, and a second time to let its gripping truths sink into my soul. I walked with Tom and Jeannie for a portion of this journey, and seldom have I seen such faith displayed in a difficult time. This story explains their faith and will challenge you to accept God’s ‘gifts’ as gifts, even when they hurt. All of us will need this book at some point in life.”

—Chuck Lawless

Vice President of Graduate Studies and Ministry Centers

Professor of Evangelism and Missions

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

“I’m not one to read a book from beginning to end in one sitting. But when you’ve observed two lives so clearly woven together in ministry, you are anxious to know their secret to handling the hardest challenges of life. Whether you had the privilege of knowing Tom Elliff with Jeannie by his side, or simply admire their vision of making the most of each remaining day, their shared wisdom will enlighten your path, one step at a time.”

—Tammi Ledbetter

Reporter, Grand Prairie, Texas

“This inspiring story of God’s all-sufficient grace throughout years of persistent suffering models for us a response of faith. Tom and Jeannie Elliff, faced with the unwanted gift of cancer, experienced that grace, and they recognized that God’s power is best demonstrated in our weakness. This book is a guide and encouragement for all of us.”

—Dr. Rebekah Naylor

Internationally acclaimed missionary physician

“I know Tom Elliff. I know Jeannie. I saw them live, and I attended Jeannie’s memorial service. I commend to you this book, The Unwanted Gift, and pray that you will read it carefully and see the sufficiency of God’s grace, exhibited in their lives, and how it can touch you. In this personal and powerful work, Dr. Tom Elliff shows very practical ways for God’s people to deal with the problems that face them in life. Read of this dear couple’s ‘glorious gospel adventure together!’”

—Frank S. Page, PhD

President and Chief Executive Officer, SBC Executive Committee

“Tom and Jeannie Elliff have etched in the portals of heaven a story of loving commitment—to each other and then, together, to the Lord Himself. One is not surprised that they would accept from a loving heavenly Father even an unwanted gift! Laugh, languish and learn—all in the reading of this brief volume!”

—Dr. Dorothy Patterson

Professor of Theology in Women’s Studies

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Jeannie and Tom Elliff have been great leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention, but they have been infinitely more than that. Perhaps most important is their model across the years for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren—God’s intention for a Christian family.  The Unwanted Gift is the story not only of that relationship but also of its temporary interruption when God chose to give the gift of taking Jeannie to her heavenly reward.  This little book blessed me and ministered to my own needs as few others have. Do not miss reading this volume.”

—Paige Patterson

President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Fort Worth, Texas

“I praise God for Tom and Jeannie Elliff—for the evident joy Jeannie exemplified in her life, the everlasting joy she experienced in her death and the extraordinary joy Tom expresses in this book. No one wants to be the one to write this story, but I am so glad Tom did. As you read it, let the tears flow from your eyes. Let hope flood into your heart amidst the inevitable hurt you experience in this world.”

—Dr. David Platt

President of the International Mission Board, SBC

Author of the best-selling book, Radical

“Tom and Jeannie Elliff have been my close friends and colleagues for many years. God has used them in significant roles of leadership and ministry. But anyone associated with them would agree that their most powerful influence was the depth of their personal walk with God and total commitment to guidance from His Word. In The Unwanted Gift, Elliff probes a deeper understanding of Paul’s thorn in the flesh. He relates, with emotional transparency, how a prolonged battle with cancer and the loss of his lifetime partner could become the channel for experiencing God’s incomprehensible grace and bring glory to Him.”

—Jerry A. Rankin

President Emeritus, International Mission Board, SBC

“Over the years, I have watched Tom and Jeannie Elliff respond to one ‘disaster’ after another with hearts anchored in the sovereignty and goodness of God. Now, Tom draws rich insights and offers comfort for hurting hearts, from his and Jeannie’s grueling, nine-year journey with cancer. The grace of God carried them through their deepest darkness. It will do the same for you and me as we receive the ‘gifts’ He has chosen for us.”

—Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Author, Teacher/Host of Revive Our Hearts