Christ died on a cross, humiliated and rejected. He is there for the abused and abandoned because he rose again. Erin Grimm lives with hope today, but that hasn’t always been the case, and in this memoir she shares her life as a trauma survivor and as someone who has attained stability in the midst of a serious mental illness diagnosis. She offers her story in hopes that you and your loved ones will find your way back home to hope and health in Christ. The book is filled with Scripture verses and prayers from The Book of Common Prayer and was written as a devotional.
The royalties for this book go to scholarships for female clergy at Northwest Nazarene University (in honor of Diane Leclerc) and Nazarene Theological Seminary (in honor of Mildred Bangs Wynkoop)
Official Endorsements
“A counterintuitively hopeful and hope-filled account of the author’s journeys in and out of mental illness and of her ensuing struggles to manage the illness, What I Remember of the Little I Understand invites us to witness first-hand the harshest of soul-grinding mental afflictions. Underscoring just how crucial for the healing of the mind is the healing also of body, soul, and memory, Erin Grimm searches doggedly for Christ throughout her journeys. Her quest ultimately builds her and her reader up in faith, hope, and love.”
–Kathryn Greene-McCreight, author of Darkness Is My Only Companion
“With both stark honesty and gentle humility, Erin Grimm invites us into the long journey of healing and hope for those dealing with trauma and mental illness. Her prose is equally honest, articulate, and accessible leaning into her own journey of ongoing healing and life. Grimm’s story is a helpful window both for those whose families struggle with mental illness and those who desire to be friends, advocates, and pastors to them.”
–Brent Peterson, co-author of The Back Side of the Cross
“Erin Grimm takes us on an inner, insightful odyssey of her own neuroatypicality. Impacted by schizoaffective disorder, she informs us that ‘people with psychosis are great teachers of the human condition.’ This book, as an emic, psychological translation, is unapologetic, candid, courageous, arresting, and informative as it opens our eyes to a reality that most will never experience and rarely understand.”
–Peter Bellini, author of Truth Therapy
“Erin Grimm has written a moving, honest, and sometimes painful memoir from the perspective of a person living with mental illness. She outlines in vivid prose the struggles she has faced in her relationships, faith, and career. Yet she also strikes a hopeful note as she describes the process of learning to manage her mental health, maintain fulfilling relationships, and rediscover purpose in life.”
–David F. Watson, professor of New Testament, United Theological Seminary
“Erin Grimm’s book is a gift to those who struggle with mental illness. Her willingness to be open about her journey with schizoaffective disorder should embolden others with mental illness to share openly. Sprinkled with passages from scripture and The Book of Common Prayer, this book offers ‘breadcrumbs’ of hope to those who are blindly navigating the ravages of mental illness–a hope of experiencing true love and full identity in the Triune God.”
–Cindy Strong, education librarian, Seattle Pacific University