Rob Mitchell is one of the last 'lifers' raised in an American orphanage. Left by a dysfunctional family in an Illinois children's home, he grew up with kids who were not friends but rather 'co-survivors.' After becoming a Christian as a teenager, Rob found what he was looking for, home and family, in a relationship with God. Rob was able to overcome his past, forgiving his relatives and forging healthy family relationships of his own.

三岁的罗比被母亲送到了孤儿院，从此他开始了对家庭的渴望与寻索，但是他的希望一次次被撕得粉碎，甚至是富有的亲人们都不愿收养他。小罗比是最后一批在美国孤儿院长大的'囚犯'之一。他的父亲自杀未遂，终生生活在精神病院中。母亲也先被送到精神病院，稳定后生活在过渡教习所。罗布被送到伊利诺伊州的儿童之家（孤儿院）。他在孤儿院生活了14年，与一起长大的孩子们不是朋友关系，而是'同样活下来了'的伙伴而已。

他经历了无数的挫折，伤痕累累,就在他感到绝望之际，他从《圣经》的亮光中，从虔诚的祷告中，听到了上帝的呼唤：'叫我父亲吧。以我为家......' 从此，他不再只是一个从孤儿院出来的孩子了，他被上帝的大家庭所收养，成为属于上帝的世界大家庭中的一员。

书中讲的不仅是一个小男孩儿