In Like A River, Granger Smith has written his first autobiography about his life and how he discovered a true relationship with Christ. This is also the first time he has shared some of the details regarding the event and what occurred afterwards. He begins the book by revealing the true story about how everything changed for his family on a hot Texas day in June. Granger was helping his seven-year-old daughter London, practice her handstand outside in the backyard. He was busy watching some of her new moves that she had recently learned. Lincoln, 5 and River, 3 was having a water gun fight, brother against brother. His career was at an all time high. He was topping Billboard charts, getting radio play, was headlighting his own tour, attending award shows, and was actually supposed to be going to the CMT Music awards the very next day. He recalls feeling like he should soak up this moment and to always remember that it wouldn’t last forever. Everything fell apart when his worst nightmare happened. He shared how his son, River was wild and he loved to always be on the move and finding the next adventure. Granger recalls seeing his son face down in the locked pool. He ran down to him and tried to save him by performing CPR. He explained how he was lifeless and cold and like a ragdoll. He described seeing his wife’s face for the first time and how she had a sheer terror look. River had no brain activity and they had to take him off life support and let him go. His wife made the choice to suggest that they donate his organs to help others. He recalls seeing his other siblings making a sign that state, “Welcome home, River” because they believed that he would be coming home and he didn’t. They had to slowly break the news to them and they had to grieve as a family. Granger shared his grief and pain and how this changed them all. He thought the heartache and pain would never end from losing his son. He remined readers that loss is a matter of when not if. We will all experience it at some point in our lives. He shared two critical truths with readers and these are, “pain is not permanent and pain is not pointless.”
He looked at rivers and how they all flow downstream. Rivers are filled with twist and turns. They may get polluted, get occupied with debris, but they still keep moving forward. It used to compare us to rivers and he reminds us that we will experience storms and turbulence. But no matter what we may face there is always a way downstream. I really thought he did a wonderful job in relating everything to a river and how life is like a river and this truly eye opening for readers.
I was deeply touched by Granger Smith’s story and you could literally feel the slideshow of the event being replayed daily in his life. He can feel the chaotic and the ripping of all the emotions you would feel if you lost a child. I have always been a fan of Granger Smith’s music for a few years now. I never could have imagine loving an artist more, then after reading a man open up about the deepest part of their soul with others. I truly loved this book and it was so moving to see him dealing with his lost and searching and rediscovering God. He had to still learn to swim upstream even when he had to go through the pain of losing his son. I also connected with his struggles with feeling like there is no hope and he felt lost without his son. I liked how he enclosed scriptures throughout the book and his journey into getting back to his faith is incredible. The only thing I would say I’m disappointed with is his decision to stop doing music and moving into full time ministry, which I get but I also enjoyed hearing his new songs come to live. This wasn’t stated in the book but he announced that recently. But I do think, he will make a wonderful preacher that his message and Christ’s message will resonate with readers. I also loved how he include two special sections about his faith and an infant swim rescue guide. Both of these features are inspiring and will change lives physically and spiritual and you might even save a life.
"I received this book free from the Granger Smith and the publisher, Thomas Nelson for my honest review.”
If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/Like-River-Finding-Strength-Heartache/dp/1400334365/
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