Review of the book Grieving God's Way by Margaret Brownley

I got this book because back in December I lost my dog to old age and we had to put him to sleep and I am still grieving him to this day and thought this book would help. I did appreciate the tips in the book as well as the scriptures from the bible which helped me cope a bit as well.

I like the quote on page 5 that says it never seems like the right time to for a loved one to die. Losing someone we love reminds us how short life is and how much we take others for granted.

I also like the tip on page 19 which says " take a trip to the beach and play as a child. Run into the waves, build a castle? not possible? Then play hopscotch with a child or fly a kite. Play a round of golf or tennis. Plan a family outing the county fair. Ride a carousel; buy an ice-cream cone, blow bubbles. Go horseback riding. Swing in the moonlight. Dance in the sun."

It seems like when we grieve we eat more and can put on weight but as the reminder on page 21 says God offers us spiritual nourishment. And grief can be tough on spirituality. So start small as page 25 says. Ask for God's help. Attend a worship service. Reread your favorite scriptures. If your faith is shaken and not strong enough to hold you up, lean on a friend's faith. Ask others to pray with you and for you.

I also like the paragraph on page 27 which says the shock and disbelief that comes with grief serve a useful purpose. These are God's way of stopping us in our tracks and telling us hold on, don't move, something important is happening here. Faith comes to us in quiet moments, the soul grows in stillness and healing takes time. You may think you are making no progress and are stuck in your grief, but God is preparing body and soul for the next growth spurt.

I also like the paragraph on page 39 which says following the death of a loved one we revert to childlike ways. We stroke photographs and keepsakes, we run our hands over a loved one's chair, seeking to stay connected.We trust our senses to confirm the reality of a loved one's death but the only way to heal heartache is reach up and touch God.I also like what is says on page 47, many of us can't bear to part with a loved one's belonging's. Sometimes we keep the person's room intact, the closet sealed like a shine. This is ok for a while, but the time must come when we have to let go of the past and look forward to the future.

I like the stuff written on page 133 which says why do we say we are ok when we are not? Why do we say we are fine when the opposite is true? Why do we put up walls when we most need open doors? How do we get our friends to be more responsive and compassionate? Admit you need help say something like, I guess I'm not as brave as I thought I was. How can we expect friends to know our needs unless we tell them?

I also like page 151 where it says sometimes we fall back or grow weary and discouraged. At times the path will seem to steep, or we'll lose our way. Our faith might even be challenged, and we'll teeter on the edge. Grief might be the hardest mountain we will ever have to climb, but we don't have to do it alone. God doesn't just wait for us at the summit, he helps us every step of the way. I like the bottom paragraph on page 161 which reads God didn't promise days without pain, but he did promise to light the way. He also promised that he will comfort and give us strength in our moments of deepest need and that one day our tears will turn to laughter.

On page 169 I like that it shows us what grief made us learn such as how precious life really is, how much time I wasted worrying about things that don't really count? Who my real friends are? How strong and capable I am? The loss of a loved one can be one of life's greatest teachers.

I have alot on my mind so this will be the end of my review but I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to my friends.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."