It's All About Him
Words of Praise for
It's All About Him
,
by Denise Jackson
Denise's story is an inside perspective on the results of the ups and downs of fame. Her personal struggles with life's ordinary and extraordinary consequences, her passion to have a stronger marriage, and her desire to have a closer walk with God make for a truly inspiring life.
Carrie Underwood
2005 American Idol Winner
Recording Artist
“Behind every great man is a great women” may be a cliché, but it's still true. Alan Jackson, like me, would not be where he is today without the love, support, and sacrifice of a praying wife. The Jacksons have been blessed far beyond the success and fame everyone sees. Those of us who know Alan and Denise, know that they have been tested and have learned some difficult life lessons and are stronger for them. This excellent book tells their story and will be an encouragement to you.
Michael W. Smith
Singer/Songwriter
It's All About Him
is a transparent story of a woman who moved from fear to faith by the grace of God . . . and with a lot of encouragement from her girlfriends. I believe Denise's book will be encouraging (even life-changing) for many women. I, for one, would stand in line forever to hear stories like this oneâwell told and with conviction. Her personal, relational and spiritual growth is compelling. She's a delight. I loved it!
Mary Graham
President,Women of Faith
®
Denise Jackson's book is sensitively, honestly, and beautifully written and should be read by every married couple. It is a story of God's restoration and healing in marriage, the power of forgiveness, and the courage to face your own faults with a repentant heart. Alan and Denise Jackson's lasting love encourages all of us that our marriages are worth fighting for, no matter what it takes. They chose the hard and narrow road that leads to life and countless people will benefit from their decision.
Stormie Omartian
Best-selling author
We have known and loved Denise and Alan for many years. As with many of us in our industry, they have experienced life's temptations and the complications that have had a dramatic affect on their marriage. At the lowest point in their marriage, Denise cried out to God. Her book tells of how God answered her prayers and the healing process to their marriage began. We admire Denise for sharing her personal story that is rich with a message of a faith that has allowed her to “Stand By Her Man.”With God all things are possible. We believe that, too.
George and Nancy Jones
Recording Artist & Member of the Country Music Hall of Fame
Wife and Personal Manager
(Married 24 years)
This book is proof that money and success do not bring happiness. I'm so thankful that Denise, in her honesty, has shared her story of how Jesus is what makes life worth living. We hear of so many broken relationships. It is a blessing to finally read a story of real people making it day by day, trusting God, and finding joy and love in the midst.
Denise Jones
Point of Grace
Denise Jackson has told her story with courage and honesty. We were inspired and blessed as we read it. What a wonderful example of the way the Lord Jesus takes the “mess” of our lives and makes a message that will bless others and glorify Him!
Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White
Grand Ole Opry Members
(Married 26 years)
Without pretense or embellishment, Denise Jackson has shared a story so honest and transparent that, should other young women find the courage to face life like she has and find their true identity in the great I Am, many marriages could be salvaged and families transformed.
Gloria Gaither
Author, Lyracist, Communicator
It's All About Him
Finding the Love of My Life
D
ENISE
J
ACKSON
WITH E
LLEN
V
AUGHN
FOREWORD BY
Alan Jackson
© 2007 by Denise Jackson
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansâelectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherâexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Published in association with the literary agency of Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc.
Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
®
. © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishing House. All rights reserved.
The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations noted NLT are from the
Holy Bible
, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-1-59555-149-8 (trape paper)
ISBN 978-1-4002-9563-0 (SE)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Jackson, Denise J., 1960â
      It's all about him : finding the love of my life / Denise Jackson with Ellen Vaughn ; foreword by Alan Jackson.
p. cm.
     Includes bibliographical references (p. ).
     ISBN 978-0-7852-2776-2 (hardcover)
     1. Jackson, Alan, 1958âMarriage. 2. Jackson, Denise J., 1960âMarriage. 3. Country musicians' spousesâUnited StatesâBiography. 4. Country musiciansâUnited StatesâBiography. 5. Christian biographyâ United States. I. Vaughn, Ellen Santilli. II. Title.
ML420.J14J33 2007
782.421642092'2âdc22
[B]
2007011528
Printed in the United States of America
09 10 11 12 BTY 6 5 4 3 2 1
Recognition
W
ITH
G
RATITUDE
. . .
T
o my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for planting the desire in my heart to write this book, and in Your perfect timing, faithfully leading me every step of the way. I give You all the glory and honor for this and every blessing in my life. I pray that every reader will come to experience the same passionate love relationship with You that I have found.
To my parents, Dan and Nell Jackson, for your unconditional love and for taking me to church every Sunday of my childhood. I have been blessed to have you as my parents. I love you dearly.
To my siblings, Ron, Jane, and Danny, for always believing in me and encouraging me. Your presence in my life has helped shape me into the person I am today. I love you.
To my mother-in-law, Ruth, and my father-in-law, Eugene, for always loving me as a daughter and for raising your son to be the godly man that I get to share my life with.
To my sisters-in-law, Diane, Cathy, Carol, and Connie: Your early influence on Alan has helped to make him the sensitive, compassionate, and caring husband and father that he is. Thank you all.
To my sisters in Christ, Jane, Liz, Beth, Kim, Joy, and Beth: You were heaven-sent angels, whose love and support helped me through the toughest days of my life. I love you all.
To everyone at Thomas Nelson: Since our very first meeting, your excitement and belief in this book and its message have been overwhelming and a real confirmation to me that our partnership was Spirit-led.
To Tim DuBois, whose decision to sign Alan to Arista Records gave me the platform to tell my story. I am forever grateful to you.
To my business manager, Debbie Doebler, and my assistant, Jerri Cook, thank you for graciously accepting all the added responsibilities that have come with this book project. I appreciate you more than you know!
To Robert Wolgemuth,my friend and now my literary agent, for awakening my heart and soul to the truths of God's Word. Thank you for recognizing God's story of grace and restoration in my life and marriage, and for guiding me through the steps to bring this book to fruition.
To Bobbie Wolgemuth: Your radiance and love for the Lord is a perfect example of what Christ means when He calls us to be “the light” in a dark world. I am forever grateful for your intercessory prayers on my behalf.
To Ellen Vaughn:What an incredible experience this journey with you has been! Your brilliant writing has brought a level of excellence to this book that I never could have achieved on my own. You have turned an otherwise daunting and intimidating task into a fun-filled adventure! It is an honor to have your name on the cover of this book with mine.
To my three precious angels, Mattie, Ali, and Dani: Being your mother has been the greatest joy of my life. You continue to amaze me every day, and make me so proud. I love you with all my heart.
To Alan, the one and only love of my lifeâwhat an adventure this life with you has been! Thank you for showing me by your example how to go after my dreams. You are my greatest inspiration. I love you more than words can express.
T
O MY THREE PRECIOUS DAUGHTERS, MATTIE, ALI, AND DANI: MY HEART'S DESIRE FOR EACH OF YOU IS THAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME PASSIONATE LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST THAT I HAVE FOUND. IT TRULY IS ALL ABOUT HIM.
A
ND TO ALAN: TO RECOVER SOMETHING OF GREAT VALUE AFTER IT HAS BEEN LOST MAKES ME TREASURE IT EVEN MORE. YOU, MY DARLING, ARE MY GREATEST TREASURE.
Contents
CHAPTER 2 LITTLE BITTY BEGINNINGS
CHAPTER 7 DAUNTING DISAPPOINTMENTS
CHAPTER 10 SPOTLIGHTS AND SHADOWS
CHAPTER 11 DELIGHTS AND DISTRACTIONS
CHAPTER 15 PRAYING NEW PRAYERS
CHAPTER 21 WHAT REALLY MATTERS
CHAPTER 25 HAPPILY EVER AFTER, EVEN WHEN WE'RE NOT
“If I had it to do all over, I'd do it all over again, If tomorrow I had one more chance to begin, I'd love you all over again.”
E
arly in my music career, I wrote those lines in a song as a tenth anniversary gift to Denise. They were sincerely written from a younger, less-experienced perspective. But I really couldn't appreciate the complete meaning of those simple words until I'd shared almost three decades on a roller-coaster road of life with this amazing woman.
Denise and I began our journey together as teenagers and have watched and helped each other grow into more balanced and healthy people. She was a skinny cheerleader and homecoming queen for Newnan High School, a prime catch for small-town Newnan, Georgia. I was a young boy with hormones and an unclear understanding of true love. But we made it to the altar, and twenty-seven years later, I see more clearly the deeper reasons I first fell in love with her.