Thursday, June 16, 2011

Recommended Books & News From Friends

Good day to each of you, and I hope you enjoy hearing from these other readers as much as I do. Please make sure to scroll all the way through to see a prayer request from Lois--she flys out tonight!

     *And I just have to add this little piece of wisdom I just received from Polly: "You know, Ferree, everything we experience in this life we are given is precious, sometimes it is hard to understand the truth of it at the time, but just to wake up to a new day is a precious gift in itself. It is up to us what we do with it. Blessings to you, Sweet Lady!"

     *Kelly L. says, "I recently purchased I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp. I had known that his young wife died shortly after they were married. Maybe that's why his music had brought much comfort in the days and weeks leading up to and after my husband, Joseph, died. Joseph had a lifelong battle with bi-polar, depression and drug addiction (self medicating). Joseph was sober and had been for a few years when I met him and we married a few months later. We always sang Jeremy Camp's song, "There Will be a Day" together. For Joseph it meant there would be a day without this inner struggle always nipping at his heels.
     I enjoyed reading Jeremy's story because he really clung to the truth in God's word. He grieved. Grief sucks but there is no magic pill or counselor that can take the suckiness out of grief. Men grieve differently than women, that is for sure. I appreciated his honesty. The book is infused with so much scripture. You know that Jeremy was fully relying on God for his comfort and strength. You can order it from Jeremy Camp.com

     *Myra says, "Well, Ferree, I have a book I recommend.  Have you read Finding Your Way Through Loneliness by Elisabeth Elliot?  It is not aimed just at widows, although the author has been widowed twice, but it address loneliness in all its forms: the widow, the divorcee and even the loneliness in a marriage. I am only half way through, but I have found comfort in it and have highlighted many parts that I will go back and read again.  Love it."

The following are two general interest books--one about grief, the other about step-families.

     *Glenda says, Healing After Loss, Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief, by Martha Whitmore Hickman is a very special book that has helped me daily.  It was recommended by a friend and fellow widow.  The devotions are very short and each day includes a thought-provoking statement and a thought for the day.  This tiny book is power packed with comfort and also ideas that make you stop and think." 

     *Don S. says, "I was a widower, widowed in early 2005 at about 55 yrs of age. One resource I found useful when putting life together and remarrying, was Step Wars by Blumen and others. For those who remarry having adult aged children, it is a nearly essential read. It is, in fact, useful to ANY who become part of an adult step family. It is NOT Christian, but has application for the Believer."

     *Please especially pray for this widow today and for the next two weeks. Lois says "The BIG event for the summer begins today! Tonight I'm flying out with a team of 66 to Romania for a 13 day mission trip. I'll be teaching in one of the five VBS's. They run for four days and I'll be teaching 3 times each of those days. PRAY for me, as well as the other team members! In the evenings we will be visiting some mission churches and on Saturday there will be a youth rally. Thanks to all who made this trip possible."

     Thanks for visiting the WCP today. May God draw you close to Him. Please let me know how I can pray for you or help with any questions about this thing called widowhood. Also, as you can see, I just plain love hearing from you. And if you'd ever like to share your story, you can see that it'll be so helpful to many others! Just let me know and I'll make it easy for you.
     Come back tomorrow for an uplifting little story that'll give you a grin, and on Saturday for a great worship video that'll touch your heart.
     Are you mentally and emotionally prepared for Fathers Day? Click here for Monday's post about it, and be sure to add a comment to help Sheri through if you can.
ferree

6 comments:

  1. There ar many good books out there have read 'From one Widow to Another',and found it helpful.Right now I am reading,'The Undistracted Widow'.It to has many helpful thoughts.

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  2. I read Miriam Neff's From One Widow to Another too and agree it was good.

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  3. True, SO many good books out there, we are bombarded from every direction on the grieving process, what will help you through it, the steps to finally complete said process, mountains of affirmations and many books filled with meditations, inspirational quotes and the like, all (or at least most) exceptional well thought out words to 'help' with our grief. But when we are left alone at night with the books put away and left with our thoughts the pain consumes you, it will eat you alive. Know, despite all that we've read throughout the day,despite all we've heard or been told, there is One beside us who knows and understands our pain, knows our needs without us uttering a single word. He, and He alone, will bring us through it ... He will one day bring a smile to your face when you had thought you would never smile again, He will give you exactly what you need to heal, the time will come when you realize an hour has gone by and you have not once felt that crushing pain, then a whole day, a week, until the time comes when He has made you whole and you didn't even know it happened, never believed it could or would happen ... it does, without you even realizing it has, you have survived ... He has made it happen, would have made it happen even if you never read a book or repeated an affirmation, His love is sufficient, we are His children ... believe it and you will see it ... The books are wonderful tools and offer measures of comfort, but they cannot give the peace that surpasses all understanding ...

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  4. Thanks for the additional recommendations--and pray for Miriam Neff as she travels to Africa tomorrow! :)
    Polly, your words are so full of rich wisdom and praise, I can read them over and over. You've paid a high price, my sister in the Lord, and I value your counsel.
    hugs to you all.

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  5. I just started Ravi Zacharias' book called The Grand Weaver. I purchased it sometime last year thinking it would be a good read in my grief journey, and it is, although it is not specifically about grief.

    Here's the description on the back of the book:

    "How differently would we live if we believed that every event of our lives - from the happy to the tragic to the mundane - was part of a meticulous and purposeful design in which all the elements intertwined with breathtaking precision?

    It's common to believe that great events such as a death or a birth are guided by the hand of God. Yet we can easily drift into feeling that our daily lives are not sovereignly directed but are simply the product of our own efforts. This book brims with stories that show us otherwise. From a chance encounter at a cricket match to a beloved father's final words before dying, from a random phone call to a line in a Scripture reading, Dr. Zacharias reveals how every detail of his life has been woven into its perfect place. Then he encourages us to examine our backgrounds, our disappointments, our triumphs, and our beliefs in a different light, explaining how they are all part of the intentional and perfect work of the Grand Weaver."

    So far, it's an easy read (some of his works are very challenging), and it's inspiring. I think it would be an uplifting read for anyone struggling with where they find themselves in life after a great loss.

    :)

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  6. Hi Ferree -

    It's been awhile since I stopped by. With a new job and many demands on my time, I can't visit as often as I once did.

    When I stop by here, there's a since of "ah, they understand." Thanks for providing a place where we can share and lift each other up.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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