What If the Stranger is God?

A Book Review

The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I doubt I have to say how much I love Mitch Albom. At this point, many of you should be well aware. Lol! If you’re a good writer, I look forward to your work. If you’re a great writer, I pine over it.

Mitch has proven to be a great writer; the older he gets, the better he becomes. I hope I’ll be reading his work for many years to come.

The Stranger in the Lifeboat is such a touching story. It made me think about the many times I doubted God after asking for help and for signs about things of which I was unsure, and God never left my side even during my faltering faith.

He remained. He is.

Here is the review for this incredible piece of literature:

“God Gifts Us What We Need

And He does so when we need it. This book shook me to my core. Ten people, shipwrecked and forced to spend multiple days with each other on a lifeboat miss out on the opportunity to live because they would not believe.

How can you read that and not be stunned? After a glorious yacht (The Galaxy), owned by multimillionaire, Jason Lambert, explodes, he and nine other people are tasked with a challenge from the Lord: believe in him, vocalize it, and they would be saved.

As I read through the pages and learned the stories of each character’s life, I had hoped that someone would gather up everyone and create an atmosphere devoted to believing the Lord was on board with them, and they could be saved.

I was wrong. No one believed hard enough. And those who did believe, only did so when sprinkles of miracles were placed in order by the Lord, Him/Herself.

Everyone wanted to get out of the situation in which they had been placed, yet no one had the heart and faith to rally the other beings so a longer life could be extended to each of them.

You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll shake your head in total disbelief at the things that occur in this book.

Mitch Albom has crafted a fictional story that feels real and will stun the reader without a doubt. This is the kind of book you read and then tell a friend to tell a friend and so on until a long line of avid readers have connected through these words.

I truly enjoyed The Stranger in the Lifeboat, and I know you will, too.”


I believe we are given helpful tools when we least expect them. This book was/is my helpful tool.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Jernee Timid Waits Patiently for Some Ice.

Jernee Timid Loadholt Waits Patiently for Some Ice on a Lovely Sunday Morning.

Because, even after all these years, my sweet baby still loves ice, and she will wait patiently for some every single time she notices that I have something “cold” to drink.

She’s so incredibly smart, and she keeps me on my toes to this very day.

I thought, maybe all of you, could use a smile or two. Happy Sunday.

Peace and blessings.

“You Learn To Accept Things” Damon Wayans

I’m ignoring the elephant in the room for now . . .

Damon K. Wayans, Sr., speaks briefly about accepting things and expecting nothing in a recent interview.

What Damon has shared in this YouTube short from a recent interview will remain with me for years to come.

How apropos is this right now at this very moment?!

Millions of people will have to accept what has occurred, endure it as best as we can, and eventually come out on top.

Hold on. Be strong. Don’t ever let go.

Peace and blessings.

the taming of fear

an audio poem

Mindset Message. ©2024 Tremaine L. Loadholt

fear, uninvited, sat with me
on a dark and gloomy day.
I offered it a glass of sweet tea.
if it was going to be here for
a while, it might as well quench
its thirst.

I usually run straight toward it;
my arms spread out for a hug
that never comes,
but today was different.
I spoke to it on a faith-based level.
I informed fear that if it
planned on staying, it would
have to do some work around
here–earn its keep.

I need love and care, confidence and hope, trust
and reassurance, and I wanted it to
understand if it did not intend
to provide those things, the
portal to my life would close
soon.

so, fear tried to negotiate with
me; if it showed up on Monday
and Thursday, would I have time
for it?
I listened to its offer, bathed the
details in the back of my
mind, and politely declined.

I decided I no longer wanted to
be stunted by this marriage.
taming fear is taking time,
but we’re both learning and growing.
pretty soon, I believe it’ll
be able to get along in
life without me.