Books by Darlene

Learning to Dance in the Rain. A message of hope to anyone struggling with the loss of a loved one, a great hurt, fear, anxiety or depression.

You Go Girl!
Darlene Ballard has absolutely captured the heart of triathlon with You Go Girl! The best is yet to come …. Her book grabs the reader by the collar and says, “Get off the sofa, lace on a pair of running shoes, and hit the road.” Darlene smacks fear and intimidation squarely in the face. She encourages and entices the most dedicated couch potato to try something that may seem impossible—a triathlon! “If I can do it, you can too!” Darlene shouts out loud for all to hear. She leaves the reader with no excuses. She faced her fears and feelings of inadequacy and conquered them. She chose to “do it afraid.” “Life is too short to sit on the sidelines,” she says. What Darlene discovered with the sport of triathlon is a world of positive and like-minded people; people who encouraged her; people who knew how to laugh—sometimes at themselves. Darlene learned to “live out loud.” She entered a world previously unknown to her—a world of triathlon—and emerged with a bucket full of positive memories, self-confidence and a truckload of friends to boot. Her co-workers also share their triathlon experiences in this book. Each entered the 2008 Aflac Iron Girl experience with a motive and a mission. Some wanted to lose weight; some wanted to fight complacency; and some were seeking more energy in their lives. What everyone discovered in completing a triathlon is that an Aflac Iron Girl can accomplish her goal while having fun and meeting wonderful people. Along the road to finishing a triathlon, Darlene experienced a full range of emotions: procrastination, intimidation, fear, pain, and fatigue followed by encouragement, inspiration, joy, fulfillment, and thankfulness. Darlene should place a warning label on the cover of her book that says, “WARNING—read only if you are prepared to start training for a triathlon!” —Cecil Cheves/ Ironman Triathlete

Simple Steps. This book will help you simplify your life in these stressful times. It will become your own personal journal.

Treasures in the Darkness is a book of true, life experiences and stories written by Darlene and friends. It will entertain, enlighten, and encourage the reader to discover his/her own treasures in the darkness.

God’s Rose. God’s Rose tells about Darlene Ballard's own personal battles with rejection and depression, and her ultimate redemption through faith. God can turn devastation into restoration.

The Master Shepherd and Rose. This book is an allegory about a sheep and her journey. It is suitable for reading to children, but has a deeper meaning for adults. Jennifer Keim designed the cover of the book. For more information about her, visit her website at http://www.jkeim.com/.

"The Master Shepherd and Rose is a beautiful story of the pure grace of God that can turn a life from helplessness to joy and purpose. It is full of passion and hope, forgiveness and promise. God is always faithful to His character and His covenant, and by trusting in that faithfulness alone, all who feel rejected and thrown away can be found, set free and restored. Rose finally surrendered to the Master Shepherd and moved from the field of the Tormentor to the flock of Tranquility. You can too! Read and enjoy this book. It is the story of a journey from despair to hope, meaningless to mission, and uselessness to purpose."
Ronald E. Cottle, PhD., Ed.D.President/Beacon Universitywww.beacon.edu

Jesus Loves Me ... This I know! Insert your own child or grandchild’s picture on the cover. It’s so important for young children to know how valuable they are, and just how much Jesus loves them! This book will make the perfect gift for Christmas, a baby shower, vacation Bible school, youth ministry projects, birthdays or Mother’s Day.

Loved by the Rock. A great affirmation book for anyone suffering from anxiety, fear, loss or depression.

Love of a Different Kind. It is an allegory- a Cinderella story with a twist-but with Jesus as the true Prince and Savior. Read how Cinderella goes from hopeless to faithful and discovers her true prince.

My Kids Are Angels … How Are Yours, is filled with her two children’s antics, pictures, and precious memories. The contents of this book will bring forth laughter and give you a merry heart, which is good like medicine.

Learning to Dance in the Rain

Message of Hope (from Darlene's newest book, Learning to Dance in the Rain)


I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give another is hope.

I, too, have suffered many great hurts and losses—and there’s no words to describe how grateful I am for those who loved, supported, and prayed for me through thick and thin—especially during times when I felt I couldn’t make it another day.

When our hearts have been crushed and shattered into a million pieces, it’s easy to lose sight of our hopes and dreams. We may even wonder if God really exists at all—and if He does—has our Dream Giver abandoned us.

Some of my closest friends have expressed how overwhelming their great hurts and losses can also be—especially during the holidays—when they felt distanced by their loved ones who appeared not to care or understand how much they were still hurting. While others were consumed with cooking, shopping, and making new memories of their own, all they could focus on was the empty seat at their table reminding them of the past. Feelings of overwhelming grief, loneliness and despair almost crippled them from moving forward. Even when they did gather around to celebrate, they faked happy smiles behind their mask of painful tears. They craved sleep as their favorite pastime to simply stop the pain—like an addict craves a fix.

I can honestly say I don’t know what you are going through, and I am not claiming to be an expert or to fully understand your great hurts, losses or fears. I only know what I’ve experienced in my own personal struggles. My wings have been clipped many times over causing me to spiral out-of-control in the wrong direction. There have been times when I just wanted to pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep. It took all my energy and strength to crawl out of bed—and face another day. When I should have been focusing on my own issues, I’ve tried to change a loved one’s behavior or to fix their situation in my own power and strength—only to clip their wings in the process. I’ve come to realize only God can change a person’s behavior—only God can heal a wounded heart—and only God can get us out of the miry pit from where we lay.

My message to you is that many of us do care. As much as we want to make your hurts simply vanish and go away, we can only understand your suffering from our own perspective and experiences. I’ve found what helps me the most is a strong shoulder to cry on, a warm hug, and an attentive ear. But, even if no one is there to offer you those things, I know the One who can. We can call out to God anytime—and anywhere.

Only our Creator can heal a tired and weary soul, because He knows all our struggles—as well as our potential. Even God knew felt indescribable pain when His only Son, Jesus Christ, was nailed unmercifully to a cross. But Jesus Himself proved that death isn’t the end—it’s just the beginning. Because of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, death doesn’t have to be our final goodbye—because one day, for those of us who have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we will see our loved ones again on the other side. (See Romans 10:9-10). So, lift up your eyes toward Heaven, because hope is on the horizon.

When we reach out to God, He reaches out to us and will supernaturally cradle us in His loving arms. No matter how deeply you are grieving right now, quitting is never an option—especially in the middle of the storm! Healing will come, but it will take time—and no one can put a time limit upon it. It’s okay to be angry—it’s okay to cry—and it’s okay to be gut honest. Just be true to yourself! When we surrender our great hurts, losses and fears to our Creator, healing will come—even though the scars remain.

One day, you will marvel as you arise from your stupor to find that a new bud of hope has blossomed. My prayer is that in due time you will use the wisdom learned through your own valley of sorrow and suffering to minister to others who are going through similar struggles. A friend once shared our light shines brightest when we have learned to trust God in the dark. You may very well be that light shining the brightest … the candle lighting the path for others to follow out of their own dark tunnels of grief, hopelessness, and despair.

The storms of life have a way of silencing the songs we once sang; but a new and happier song is still waiting to be heard. Listen as God’s beautiful melody is whispered into your soul, beckoning for you to come closer. May God’s healing balm of faith, hope and love gently bind up your wounds and wash away your tears—giving you renewed strength—and the courage to stand strong—even in life’s most treacherous storms.

Your Heavenly Father is with you right now—whether you're in the valley, alone on the mountaintop, in the fiery furnace, or in the middle of a storm. Only He can pull you out of your deep despair. Reach out in faith and grab the lifeline—the hand of Jesus. Let Him be your guide as He teaches you how to ... dance in the rain.