Now You See Me: How I Forgave the Unforgivable

by Kathy Sanders Narrated by Kathy Sanders

Overview

On April 19, 1995, Kathy Sanders' life was changed forever when a bomb exploded and destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City, killing her two grandsons Chase and Colton.

For months, Kathy struggled with coping and wondered if the God she'd worshipped all her life even existed. After battling bitterness and contemplating suicide, she turned to the Lord and asked what He'd have her do. The answer was clear: Forgive your enemies.

Thus Kathy forged a friendship with Terry Nichols, one of the men convicted in the bombing, via phone conversations, letters, and even face-to-face meetings.

She also began searching for answers about what happened that fateful day in April and found opportunities to cultivate relationships with Nichols' children, mother, sister, wife, and ex-wife in separate turns. She demonstrated the same type of warmth to family members of Timothy McVeigh, the second man convicted of orchestrating the bombing. Her courageous efforts of extending compassion and grace gave her peace and removed the bitterness from her life.

With photos, interviews, and actual letters exchanged between Kathy and Terry Nichols, Now You See Me tells the story of one woman who walked the road less traveled and forgave the unforgivable.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"NOW YOU SEE ME is an amazing and enlightening story of Kathy Sanders' pathway to forgiveness. Kathy's firsthand recollections of the Oklahoma City bombings of the Murrah Building, which took the lives of her two grandchildren, vividly paint a picture of that horrific day in U.S. history. Kathy's surprising later connection to Terry Nichols not only brought her to a level of forgiveness, but sparked a spiritual awakening in him. This story will be of enormous benefit to friends and families going through similar trauma and working to find their own paths to forgiveness."—Jay Bradford, Arkansas Insurance Commissioner

"Kathy Sanders is, quite simply, one of the most courageous women I've ever known. She has survived near crippling loss and grief to live her life from a place of strength, compassion and love. Where most people would turn and run, Kathy has continually moved forward. Her journey is an inspiration. I am honored to call her my friend."—Melissa Gilbert, wife, mother, and New York Times bestselling author

"Riveting. Forceful. Redemptive. Written like a personal journal, with shades of investigative reporting, Kathy Sanders recounts her personal journey after losing her two grandsons in the 1995 Oklahoma City federal building bombing. Moving through her tragedy, devastation, doubts, depression, then finally arriving at the first stirrings of wanting to live again, this artist reveals the pathway to healing she found. A powerful journey of faith revitalized and forgiveness rediscovered. I wasn't able to put it down until I finished."—Dr. Kevin Clarkson, lead pastor of First Baptist Church, Moore, OK

"Self awareness and the ability to forgive our enemies, as well as ourselves, seems impossible. This book shows how. Inspirational, thought-provoking, and insightful."—Joe Kleine, Christian, husband, father of four, Assistant Coach of UALR, 15-year NBA career, member of the 1954 Olympic gold medal basketball team, and 1998 NBA champion Chicago Bulls

Joe Kleine

"Self awareness and the ability to forgive our enemies, as well as ourselves, seems impossible. This book shows how. Inspirational, thought-provoking, and insightful."

Dr. Kevin Clarkson

"Riveting. Forceful. Redemptive. Written like a personal journal, with shades of investigative reporting, Kathy Sanders recounts her personal journey after losing her two grandsons in the 1995 Oklahoma City federal building bombing. Moving through her tragedy, devastation, doubts, depression, then finally arriving at the first stirrings of wanting to live again, this artist reveals the pathway to healing she found. A powerful journey of faith revitalized and forgiveness rediscovered. I wasn't able to put it down until I finished."

Melissa Gilbert

"Kathy Sanders is, quite simply, one of the most courageous women I've ever known. She has survived near crippling loss and grief to live her life from a place of strength, compassion and love. Where most people would turn and run, Kathy has continually moved forward. Her journey is an inspiration. I am honored to call her my friend."

Wes Lane

"As the district attorney responsible for the state prosecution of Terry Nichols, I don't subscribe to conspiracy theories or musings on possible government cover-ups. But as a common citizen I was profoundly impressed and even moved by the spiritual journey taken by Kathy Wilburn Sanders. Only those robbed of their loved ones can truly comprehend the pain and grief this grandmother and her family experienced at the hand of McVeigh and Nichols. The beauty of this story is that she is a walking testament that Jesus Christ does what he says he can do - bring peace and joy out of the ashes of grief and despair."

Jay Bradford

"NOW YOU SEE ME is an amazing and enlightening story of Kathy Sanders' pathway to forgiveness. Kathy's firsthand recollections of the Oklahoma City bombings of the Murrah Building, which took the lives of her two grandchildren, vividly paint a picture of that horrific day in U.S. history. Kathy's surprising later connection to Terry Nichols not only brought her to a level of forgiveness, but sparked a spiritual awakening in him. This story will be of enormous benefit to friends and families going through similar trauma and working to find their own paths to forgiveness."

Kirkus Reviews

2014-03-18
A journey of self-discovery after terrible loss. On April 19, 1995, a day many people will never forget, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed, killing 168 people. For Sanders, it was also the day her Christian faith was rocked to her very core, as her two young grandsons, Chase and Colton, were among the victims. The author details the moments, days and years after that fateful morning as she struggled to understand why someone would harm innocent people and why God would allow such a destructive event to occur. She was determined to get answers and reached out to the one person who might be able to provide them: Terry Nichols, the co-conspirator in the bombing. Although she often questioned her decision to befriend this murderer and received no sympathy for her actions from the families of victims, Sanders continued her pursuit, knowing her decisions were based on God's idea of forgiveness. Through letters and phone calls, she connected with Nichols to the point where she was able to tell him, "I love you." She also extended her forgiveness and friendship to Nichols' mother and sister, inviting them to her home. Honest in her self-assessment, Sanders doesn't hide her overwhelming grief at the loss of her two grandsons or the profound comfort she felt when she let God help her toward finding the truth about the bombing. "While looking for the truth about the Oklahoma City Bombing, I found something much better," she writes. "It has restored my joy and put a smile on my face….My victorious life is wrapped in forgiveness." Strongly Christian-based, the author's testimony shows how extreme faith can overcome overwhelming situations and allow kindness to replace bitterness and despair. A moving account of how one woman's life was changed forever after the Oklahoma City bombing.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170090372
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	04/08/2014
Edition description:	Unabridged

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