Debut Memoir Coming Soon
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Debut Memoir Coming Soon *
Benedictions Given to an
Ordinary Woman
What do you do when the life you’ve carefully built begins to crumble?
Kristin had dedicated herself to building a successful life. As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, she invested deeply in her career, her marriage, her children, and her family. By all appearances, she was thriving—living the kind of life many people dream of.
But everything changed when her eyesight began to fail. Suddenly, the strong, capable woman who guided others through their struggles was facing her own devastating loss. In her brokenness, Kristin discovered what many of us resist: there comes a point when we can’t fix life on our own. We must surrender to something greater.
Through the prayers of others and her own reluctant yet courageous “yes” to God, Kristin experienced a miraculous healing of her eyesight. But even more powerful than the restoration of her vision was the renewal of her faith. She learned to release her grip on the life she thought she needed, and to embrace the daily gift of God’s love, mercy, and will.
This book is Kristin’s story of healing and awakening—but it’s also a story for all of us. With honesty and hope, she reminds us that surrender is not the end of our story, but the beginning of a new one. It is in letting go that we truly see—and in seeing, we live.
"Benedictions Given To An Ordinary Woman"is a riveting account of the ways God tenderly and unmistakable meets us in our most ordinary days, our greatest challenges, and our deepest hungers. Kris Gedstad shares honestly and vulnerably, inviting us into her transformational experiences and providing openness for our own. From the healing of her eyesight to her presence beside her beloved Grandmother at heaven’s threshold, the yearning of friendships, the pain of marriages, this book points to God’s love and powerful continually at work — a foundation of hope for these days of big questions and painful doubts.”
*Rev. Arianne Braithwaite Lehn, PCUSA pastor, artist, and author of Ash and Starlight: Prayers for the Chaos and Grace of Daily Life
Kristin Gedstad is first of all sincere. Having experienced joy and heart ache in her own life filled with 2 marriages and 2 divorces, she also has children and grandchildren. She comes from a farm family with the stereotypical hard-working, honest, ethical and genuine concern for the well-being of others. She now lives life as a single-woman and is joyfilled as she has fallen in love with Jesus.
*Jean Bearden, BA, Director of Women’s Ministries and subsequently on the Senior Leadership Team of a large church over 20 years.
Kristin Gedstad spent 44 years providing psychotherapy, and in that role she encountered every kind of problem and painful experiences her clients brought. Even though she describes herself as an “ordinary woman,” she clearly has a history of extraordinary experiences, both professionally and personally. This book is about her personal experiences, but the thoughtful reader will see her wisdom and professional knowledge emerge between the lines.
*Dr. Doug Anderson, PsyD, in Clinical Psychology, MA in Clinical Psychology, MA in Counseling, MDiv.
“Benedictions Given to an Ordinary Woman is a rare and beautiful memoir, written by a seasoned therapist who knows suffering from both sides of the chair. Kristin Gedstad, LPC, writes with the insight of a clinician and the soul of a seeker. As a fellow Licensed Professional Counselor, I was deeply moved by how she integrates faith, loss, mental health, and moments of divine encounter with stunning vulnerability and grace. This book doesn’t just tell a story - it offers healing. Each chapter reads like a sacred reflection reminding readers that God meets us in the quiet, the heartbreaking, and the mystery. A powerful read for anyone navigating pain, faith, or the long road back to themselves."
*Jennifer Beasley, LPC, (Licensed Professional Counselor,)
Hope*Writers Author and Certified Writing Coach.
About Kristin
Hello, friends—I’m Kristin. My life has been a winding journey, marked by both trials and blessings. I’m a twice-divorced wife, a proud mom of two beautiful daughters, and now “Grandma” to three precious grandchildren. For 44 years I walked beside others as a mental health therapist, but today my greatest joy is walking daily with Jesus.
I wasn’t always this close to Him. For many years, I would have called myself a lukewarm Christian. But then came 14 powerful spiritual encounters—including the miraculous healing of my vision—that changed me forever. From that moment on, how could I not fall deeply in love with Him?
Now, in this new season of my life, I feel called to write and share the blessings Jesus has poured into me. My book, Benedictions Given to an Ordinary Woman, is my way of testifying to what God has done and continues to do in my life.
If you’re longing to know Jesus more deeply, I hope my story encourages you to open your Bible, spend time in prayer, and discover the love of a Savior who already loves you beyond measure.
From this ordinary woman to you—may His blessings find you today.
