Kimberly Rucker is using her family’s experience to write a book detailing what she has learned from God in her life.
Rucker, a LaRue County resident, married her husband Barry in 1988 and they have three sons, Travis, William T. and Joshua. They also have two grandchildren, Keal and Hudson.
“After many years of trying to do better for us and not really getting anywhere, I felt like all I was looking for was God’s way of telling me, ‘No,'” Rucker said. “I couldn’t understand that.”
She often wondered what she was doing wrong, but said she never gave up and kept the faith.
Meanwhile, Rucker said God placed people in her path who prayed with her and taught her more about God, which gave her the strength she desperately needed.
On August 16, 2018, she said she landed her dream job as a juvenile clerk at the LaRue County Courthouse.
“The work was hard and so sad at times, but I loved my new job,” she said. “My new bosses were outstanding and very helpful as it was hard work.”
At that time, Rucker said she was finally proud of her accomplishments in life.
But this joy was short-lived. Just over two months later, on November 1 of that year, she said her world was “turned upside down”.
“My husband was hit head-on by a deputy sheriff who was traveling over 90 mph on impact,” she said. “Barry saw the deputy’s (car) approaching him and pulled to the side of the road, to await his fate.”
Rucker said Barry thought he gave the deputy enough room to move around safely because he wasn’t sure he could make a high-speed turn. But, the deputy hit Barry’s truck. Barry survived but was injured.
“We later learned that the deputy had just left the scene of a work accident and was heading to a burglary that was happening across the county,” she said.
Rucker took everything she experienced during that time and poured it into a book titled “And God Said, ‘No.’ ”
“I gave this title to my book because I felt for many years that whatever I wanted, God was telling me no,” she said. “And, that title is also a reflection of God telling us that now was not the time for Barry to leave.”
She changed some names and places while telling her story in the book.
Looking back, Rucker now realizes that God was preparing them for something better and opened their eyes to see that each day was a gift and to live each day as your last.
Learning these lessons while writing the book strengthened Rucker. She said that before taking her time on earth for granted, now she doesn’t and considers every day a gift.
“I look back and see the strength God gave me to keep going through such a nightmare,” she said.
This is the first book she has written and because she has received a lot of support, she hopes to write a second book which will talk about what has happened in their lives since the book was published in February this year.
The book is not just a family affair, but the creation of the book is a family affair. His son, William T. designed the cover using a photo of his father’s truck.
In writing the book, she wants readers to realize how precious life is.
“Even if someone goes through many difficult trials, God is with you,” she said. “You might not get the answers you’re looking for, but it all depends on his timing.”
The book is available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble’s website, and other book-selling websites.
Becca Owsley can be reached at 270-505-1416 bowsley@thenewsenterprise.com.
