Finding My Father: How the Gospel Heals the Pain of Fatherlessness

“This exquisitely written book isn’t just for those raised fatherless. It’s for everyone—male or female, single or married, patchily parenting or poorly parented—who cares to know more about the character of God. Buy it. Give it. Savor it. ”

“Blair Linne’s story reflects our universal longing for a father who will protect and love us. Her aching desire for that earthly father may bring you to tears as her memoir unfolds. Blair’s burgeoning faith in her heavenly Father will bring you to worship by the end of this memorable book. ”

“This is an extremely timely and beautifully transparent read! Blair invites us in with gospel-ward and hope-filled insight. She fearlessly follows often-severed echoes throughout creation to find the first voice, who spoke all of us into being. She shows us how in real life Christ restores and steadies and answers the deep yearning of every soul by enabling us to know God as our good Father. ”

“Blair doesn’t just tell her moving story; she tells ours. Whether in sorrow, triumph, confusion or breakthrough, the different brushstrokes of our lives paint the same incomplete picture. Every void we’ll know can be traced to one veil-tearing truth: we need our Father. This book compels us to not only acknowledge but relish in it; and if we do, nothing can ever really remain the same. ”

“The pain of the wound of fatherlessness is hard to put words to, but Blair Linne has done just that. But there is more than just pain in the pages of this book. There is hope and wisdom and an invitation to be loved by a Father who will never disappoint, always provide, always protect, and always be present. ”

“Blair Linne has a message we need to hear. She has written with refreshing honesty not only about the struggle of growing up in a single-parent Black home but also of the vital role fathers play in every child’s life. More than that, Blair has given a message of hope: that there is a Father to the fatherless, and that an intimate connection to him brings the real healing we need. As an inner-city pastor for over thirty years, I have witnessed some of what she writes about, and this is a book I want every family in our church to read—especially the fathers! ”

“On one level, I cannot relate to this book. My dad was the best man at my wedding. On a deeper level, though, I certainly can. Blair Linne and I share the same heavenly Father, so we have far more in common than earthly indicators would suggest. Even the best dads, after all, only dimly reflect the Lord of love. If you are a victim of fatherlessness—whether his absence was physical or relational—this book will be a balm for your soul. Most important, it will crystallize your view of the greatest Father, who turned your criminal trial into an adoption ceremony and has never regretted making you his. ”

“Finding My Father is profoundly substantive and masterfully written. With theological insightfulness and vivid, engaging, and endearing eloquence, Blair puts her finger on the pulse of one of the most critical issues of the day—fatherlessness. By weaving together her powerful personal story with relevant biblical principles and a tinge of strategically placed sociological data, Blair leads hearers to the Father par excellence. She presents him as one who not only produces better earthly fathers but also provides a remedy for any who may deal with some sort of ‘father wound.’ In short, I was riveted. This is a must-read! ”

“This is a powerful book. Pain and a sense of wistful loss surge out of practically every page. A few times I found myself drifting back to my own chaotic childhood, lamenting my own lack of a strong father figure. It’s rare to find a book that genuinely moves the soul in the way that this one does. Beautiful. Haunting. Poetic. A book that simultaneously grieves you and heals you. I honestly wish I had the words to convey how much I love it. What a service Blair has done for the church of Jesus and the millions of fatherless (and motherless) wounded souls that surround us at every level of society. I’ve already thought of a dozen people I can give it to in my church. And my guess is that you will too. ”

“Blair Linne’s story about needing, seeking, and finding her father echoes the need we all have to find our true Father and our eternal home. The words on these pages read like a poem, a prayer, a puzzle, and a promise—achingly beautiful, wise, and hope-filled. This book is not only for the fatherless; it’s for all of us who are part of the family of God. ”