Reading is one of my favorite ways to spend my leisure time. Not only is it great entertainment but strangely sometimes it is my therapy. It amazes me how the right book comes along at the right time and is just what you need for that season. I did not plan on reading any of these books at the beginning of the year. As a matter of a fact, they were nowhere on my radar. However they each came into my life at the right time and made a remarkable difference in what I was going through.
I came across this book on a friend’s Facebook page this past summer shortly after my daughter passed away. My friend posted the following excerpts:
When I saw them, I knew I had to read this book. Looking back, this book started the healing process for me. I had been through a lot over the past six months and I became totally absorbed in Shauna’s stories while on a long train ride to and from my best friend’s bridal shower. I felt all of her ups, downs, joys and pain. I also highlighted almost every page! I remember hoping and praying at the end of the book that she had gotten her desire. So as soon as I finished the book, I hurried off to Google the rest of her story. Most importantly, the message in Bittersweet was simple: “when life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.”
A short while after reading Bittersweet, I came across Kelle Hampton’s blog
Enjoying the Small Things. I had seen it once before while I was pregnant but this time her story touched me in a different way. I borrowed a copy of her book Bloom which tells the story of her daughter Nella who she discovered had Down Syndrome at birth. Boy oh boy, this one really brought back all the emotions that I had experienced in the past few months. I was amazed at how similar our grief process was even though our circumstances were different. This book truly did for me what no therapist, or my family and friends could. I also knew after reading Nella’s story that I had to write Karissa’s story. And so I did- the night before my surgery shelf no less. Sometimes you have to get some things out to move forward.
If I had to assign a theme to the second half of this year in my life it would have to be love. I learned about love as I sat and talked with Hospice patients and their families, in church as my pastor labored with us in John 14 v. 34-35 and 1 Corinthians 13 for weeks, and even as I stepped outside the box to learn about faiths that were different than mine.
A few weeks ago, I came across Bob Goff’s book Love Does on Amazon. As I read this book all I could think was this guy really does everything big (to the point of annoyance in some cases). By the time I was through however, I was left inspired to live a life that exemplifies Christ’s love by doing and not just saying, studying etc. Bob has done some daring things that I would never have been bold enough to try (seriously, who invites Heads of States to their houses?) but reading about them led me to ask myself, why not? Why not be bold and daring if it means doing something meaningful? So Bob, if you ever read this :-) I will definitely find a way to do something bold, daring and entirely unconventional in 2013.
Up Next:
I haven't read this last book as yet but I will be closing out the year with A Million Miles In A Thousand Years and I expect nothing less than to be left feeling inspired and ready to take on 2013.
Share: Did you read any great books in 2012? Please share!
(Amazon) 
(Amazon)
(Amazon)
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