Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman Summary

Choosing to SEE chronicles Mary Beth Chapman’s journey through grief after the tragic loss of her daughter Maria Sue, exploring themes of faith, family resilience, and finding purpose in pain. It combines raw emotional honesty with reflections on trusting God’s plan, advocacy for orphans, and the tension between doubt and hope.

This book resonates with individuals navigating grief, Christian readers seeking insights on faith during hardship, and advocates for adoption. It’s also valuable for those interested in memoir-driven stories of resilience and families rebuilding after loss.

Yes—ranked a New York Times bestseller, it’s praised for its unflinching honesty and spiritual depth. Readers describe it as emotionally impactful, offering solace and practical faith lessons amidst tragedy. Endorsements from figures like Chuck Colson highlight its universal relevance.

Mary Beth portrays faith as a dynamic struggle, balancing moments of doubt with trust in God’s sovereignty. She emphasizes finding hope in eternal life and experiencing God’s presence even in unanswered questions.

The Chapman family’s shared grief and mutual support underscore the book. Mary Beth highlights their efforts to honor Maria’s legacy through adoption advocacy and maintaining unity during emotional turmoil.

She details overwhelming sorrow, guilt, and the challenge of balancing motherhood with personal healing. Her narrative avoids simplistic solutions, instead validating the ongoing process of reconciling loss with faith.

The book urges readers to “choose to see” God’s purpose in suffering, advocating for purposeful living rooted in love and service. It emphasizes that joy and grief can coexist through faith.

Maria’s adoption from China catalyzed the Chapmans’ work with Show Hope, a nonprofit supporting adoptive families. The book ties personal loss to a broader mission, framing advocacy as a redemptive outlet.

Some may find its emotional intensity overwhelming, and its faith-centric approach less relatable for secular audiences. However, its candidness about spiritual struggle appeals widely to Christian readers.

Unlike secular memoirs, it integrates theological reflection, offering a Christian framework for processing loss. Its focus on communal healing and advocacy distinguishes it from more introspective works like Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking.

Its themes of resilience, faith crises, and familial bonds remain universal, particularly for communities grappling with collective trauma or ethical adoption challenges. The book’s raw authenticity continues to resonate in a culture seeking hope amid uncertainty.

While direct quotes aren’t provided in sources, key concepts include:

• “Seeing God in the pain”: Trusting His presence amid unanswered questions.
• “Joy and sorrow coexist”: Embracing both emotions as part of healing.
• “Legacy of love”: Transforming personal loss into advocacy.

Mary Beth advocates for honest emotional expression, leaning on community, and channeling grief into purposeful action. The narrative models how faith can anchor individuals through long-term recovery.