Through the Deep Waters

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

  Amos smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “As you said, God is good.”

  Dinah tipped her face to receive his kiss on her eager lips, then settled her cheek on his shoulder again. Indeed, God was good.

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for visiting Florence, Kansas, and the Clifton Hotel. I rarely set a story in something other than a fictional community because I worry about getting the facts wrong. But I wanted my wannabe Harvey girl to come to the first hotel owned by the man credited with bringing culture to the West. (You can read more about Fred Harvey, his restaurants, and the Harvey girls at www.kshs.org.) Despite intensive research, I’m sure there are some places where whimsy has overridden fact. Partly because much of Florence’s history records were lost in floods, and partly because I’m human. I hope historians with a close tie to Florence will forgive any discrepancies.

  This story, more than any other I’ve written, is close to my heart. Dinah is a fictional character, but unfortunately her experience is far too real. Statistics show that one in every five girls and one in every twenty boys will be sexually molested before they reach their eighteenth birthdays. Childhood sexual abuse steals a child’s trust and innocence and creates tremendous scars that often haunt people well into their adult years. My heart breaks for those who struggle with relationships, who battle trust issues, who view themselves as unworthy, who use alcohol or drugs to numb the pain, who hide their feelings of shame beneath a mask of indifference or perfection or promiscuity because of someone else’s selfish choice.

  Dinah found release from her burden of shame when she reached out in faith to the One who knows all and can heal all. I pray if you are struggling with the residual pain of childhood sexual abuse, you’ll accept Ruthie’s advice to Dinah: You shouldn’t feel shameful over what someone else did. The shame isn’t yours to carry. Give it to Jesus and walk in freedom.

  May God bless you abundantly as you journey with Him!

  Kim

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  As always, heartfelt appreciation to my family—my husband, my parents, my children—for your support and encouragement. I could not meet the challenges of this writing ministry without you!

  My sincerest thanks to Phoebe Janzen from Florence, Kansas, who opened the Harvey House Museum for me and shared her wealth of knowledge about the first Harvey-owned hotel. Your passion for history and specifically the Harvey legacy is contagious. I’m glad you helped me catch the “bug.”

  Hugs to my critique partners. Every writer needs a cheer squad. I’m so grateful God blessed me with you.

  Shannon and the fabulous team at WaterBrook, I marvel at your talents and abilities. Writing a book truly is a team effort, and I have been gifted abundantly by becoming a part of your team.

  Finally, and most important, deepest gratitude and endless awe to God. Without Your healing touch, I would still be buried beneath the burden of shame, leaning on a cane, trying to earn my way to worthiness. Thank You for being my Healer, my Savior, my Enough. There is such joy in being whole. May any praise or glory be reflected directly back to You.

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Dinah was born and raised in a brothel. People in town viewed her as tainted and rejected her because of her connection to the Yellow Parrot. Was this a fair response? Do we sometimes make assumptions about people based on their associations? How can we be fair in our treatment of those who come from questionable home situations or backgrounds?

  2. When Dinah agreed to meet the gentleman in the hotel room in exchange for money, her motives were good—she wanted the money to care for her mother. Her choice goes against the biblical admonition from 1 Corinthians 6:18 that instructs believers to flee from sexual immorality. Because Dinah wasn’t a Christian when she went to the hotel, does that absolve her from responsibility for her decision? Why or why not?

  3. Amos suffered an injury that resulted in a lifelong physical abnormality that left him feeling less worthy than his able-bodied brothers. Was his view of himself understandable? How would you have advised Amos? How can you help those you know who face physical challenges to feel capable and confident?

  4. Dinah places great emphasis on becoming one of Mr. Harvey’s servers. Why is this so important to her? Have you ever set a goal that proved to be out of reach? How did you handle the failure? Was Dinah’s failure to become a server a loss or was it a victory? Why do you view it that way?

  5. Ruthie wants to help her family financially and to honor her minister father by living according to God’s Word. At the same time, she dreams of having her own family. How do her wants complement one another? How do they collide? How do Ruthie’s desires change when she realizes she has put more focus on earthly relationships than on the one with her heavenly Father?

  6. Dinah’s treatment at the hands of the gentleman who used her for his pleasure leaves a mark that haunts her dreams and hinders her from formulating relationships. She holds the secret inside, fearing people’s reaction if they discover the “dirtiness” of her soul. When did the secret lose its power? What brought about her healing from the past? What did Ruthie mean when she told Dinah she shouldn’t feel guilty over what the gentleman had done? Do we sometimes carry responsibility for someone else’s actions? How can we release a shame that isn’t ours to bear?

  7. Amos put great stock in building a successful chicken farm. Was he right to put so much focus on increasing his flock and making more money? Why or why not? How can we be certain the goals we set for ourselves are God-honoring rather than self-honoring?

  Can one woman’s fight for the poor and destitute lead to the love she has never known?

  In What Once Was Lost, Kim Vogel Sawyer captivates readers with a hopeful romance set in a rural Kansas community in the late 1800s where a Mennonite woman and a bitter mill owner find that debilitating loneliness melts away through ministering to the needs of those around them.

  Check out the e-exclusive prequel, The Grace That Leads Us Home.

  Read excerpts from these books and more on

  Water​Brook​Multnomah.​com!

  Sometimes a secret must be kept for the truth to be revealed.

  Echoes of Mercy follows investigator Caroline Lang into a Kansas chocolate factory where her resolve to end child labor involves keeping her true identity hidden. When she meets Oliver, who has also assumed an alias, her feelings for him challenge her to keep her secret and complete her calling.

  Check out the e-exclusive prequel, Just As I Am.

  Read excerpts from these books and more on

  Water​Brook​Multnomah.​com!