Sara Jouret
Pain is something we all understand because we all experience it at some point in life. No one is exempt. With pain comes the choice of whether we allow it to make us better or bitter. Each painful experience is coupled with valuable life lessons. If we choose to learn from our life experiences, the lessons can help us become better. If we take the easy route, our hearts can become hardened by the bitterness of pain.
Sara Jouret is no stranger to pain and challenges, but she knows each lesson has the potential to help her become more of the person God created her to be if she allows it to. Even though it has not been an easy road, Sara continually chooses to allow the pains of life to make her better because she knows her true strength comes from Christ alone.
Obstacles began at a very early age when she was diagnosed with epilepsy and hearing loss. At the age of 14, Sara was in a serious car accident which left her unconscious because of a traumatic brain injury. After being flown back to her hometown via helicopter, she spent the next 5 months in the hospital and rehabilitation. Doctors told her mother it was very unlikely she would be able to return to high school, much less graduate. With God's help and a lot of hard work, she went back to high school and graduated. After high school, she went on to college. Because of God's continual help and strength, she graduated from both high school and college with honors. Sara understands what it is to face significant obstacles, but she also understands it is more than possible to overcome tremendous obstacles with God's help!
Writing became one of Sara's favorite past-times when she was in elementary school. As part of her rehabilitation after the traumatic brain injury in 1991, she started journaling on a regular basis. When she began taking care of her Grandma Jouret in 2011, she gathered all of her journals to start working on her first book. As a result of the traumatic brain injury, she dealt with memory loss issues. Sara found journalling was an effective way of keeping track of her life. Without her journals, she knew she would remember very little. The task of compiling 20+ journals was intense, but also therapeutic, as she began to re-live both the good and bad life experiences she had forgotten about. Even though it was difficult, she pressed forward because she knew remembering the past is an important part of improving the future.
Through the unexpected twists and turns in her life, Sara has learned the most valuable thing in life is her relationship with God. She knows He is the only reason she is alive today!! She hopes to encourage those who are facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles with her story because she knows nothing is impossible with God's help!!!
Finishing her first book is a major accomplishment in itself, but considering the fact Sara suffered a traumatic brain injury 23 years ago makes this accomplishment even more meaningful. This book is proof it's possible to accomplish anything with God's help!! If God has called you to do something, please do not give up!!! Keep pressing forward!! It probably won't be easy, but it will be worth it!! :)