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kpbailey's review against another edition
3.0
I liked a lot of things about this book. Her style of writing is very easy to read. Like a blog. And I seem to enjoy, in general, biography-type stories about faith. And seeing how strong faith and hope can be. It's inspiring to learn from other people's experience and example. Even though I like that it's easy to read, like a blog, I wish the end of the book wasn't actual blog posts printed in a book. It seemed more like the easy way of writing those chapters. It didn't flow with the rest of the writing and story as well.
ngb1980's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
stepanana's review against another edition
4.0
Couldn't put it down. Couldn't stop crying. Just a touching story of a loving family.
beckygomezmd's review against another edition
4.0
Inspiring but sad, be sure to have some tissues nearby if you read it.
miralee237's review against another edition
5.0
I expected this book to be sad and filled with grief. I was pleasantly surprised that it was filled with hope and inspiration. She takes you through her journey so you do hear her sadness obviously but that wasn't the thesis of her story.
lvg4him's review against another edition
5.0
I remember the day I heard about the accident. My heart broke, and I immediately became terrified of my children being hit by a car backing up because they could not been seen (some of those cars are so high off the ground, they are unable to see little children behind them). Reading this book gave me such hope to trust that God truly is sovereign. That I can rest and trust in Him. That God is good ALL the time. It was so encouraging and uplifting reading how Mary grew through this. Ad to read how her son's friends and siblings all gathered around him, lifting him up in prayer. This book was a heart wrenching read, but I am so thankful she shared her heart and was so open in this book. It really was a very encouraging read.
amyhvh's review against another edition
So good, I cried. I love how raw and honest she is.
shicklin's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I read Mary Beth Chapman's story at the same time as I read the chapter on pain in Strong Women, Soft Hearts. I can only rate the book on the heroism of the author as she faces her grief head on in light of the Lord's love for her. This was a book about faith and grief and pain and life. Very encouraging in regards to the character of Our Father. It was also about adoption, as this is a passion for the Chapman's and hopefully will become more and more the heart of the church.
While I read this, Mount Merapi is erupting just over the mountain. It has colored the way I have read this book. This morning when I woke up, I saw the ashes billowing up into the sky in a huge and mighty cloud. Even now, I hear the eruptions like thunder, and here I sit, comfortably at my computer. I am grieved for all of those who have died, but also for all of the refugees who have given up their homes, and live crowded in a small area, relying on the aid of others. This weekend we will have an opportunity to provide relief in some form at the camps--but still it seems like in light of this pain, I know how to do very little. I pray that we will be a light in a time of suffering and pain in some small way. I long for the Lord to return, but here I am surrounded by so many who do not believe.
While I read this, Mount Merapi is erupting just over the mountain. It has colored the way I have read this book. This morning when I woke up, I saw the ashes billowing up into the sky in a huge and mighty cloud. Even now, I hear the eruptions like thunder, and here I sit, comfortably at my computer. I am grieved for all of those who have died, but also for all of the refugees who have given up their homes, and live crowded in a small area, relying on the aid of others. This weekend we will have an opportunity to provide relief in some form at the camps--but still it seems like in light of this pain, I know how to do very little. I pray that we will be a light in a time of suffering and pain in some small way. I long for the Lord to return, but here I am surrounded by so many who do not believe.
jewellspring's review against another edition
4.0
What did I think? I THOUGHT it was only an okay written book, skipped and rushed at certain points, but I FELT powerfully touched as a result of reading it. I read it straight through in 24 hours, even catching moments in the car. Tears came just reading the opening dedication from Mary Beth to her daughter, Maria, and I closed the book with wet tears as well.
I am deeply thankful for Mary Beth's honesty. She writes of the pain and ache up to the end. She doesn't try to wrap her family's loss and wounds up in the answers Christians are "supposed" to have. She avoids that temptation. She has to choose, over and over and over again, to see God's heart and admits the battle day after day.
I can't imagine the pain of losing a child in an accident by the hand of one of my other children. But her pain is the focus of the book with a Savior who is "acquainted with grief". She doesn't try to tell her son's story, or even the story of all her contacts through her public husband, or the money they must have had for the weddings of the older children, or vacations, or therapists. She stays focused on her process. She is now acquainted with grief, the grief of a mother, and she helps us understand that there are no easy answers, not even close, for the grief of a mother who family has been invaded by suffering.
I needed this book. Her story also helped remind my heart of the comfort of Christian culture and the hope of heaven. It reminded my heart of some of the given truths of Christianity that can help heal when taken for granted. I was deeply touched by her heart's expression of care for Chinese orphans and the story of Maria's Big House of Hope. Yes, my heart needed to be reminded of the goodness of God in the midst of suffering without it being cliched, rushed, or logically explained. This book also helped my heart to "see".
Thank you, Mary Beth.
I am deeply thankful for Mary Beth's honesty. She writes of the pain and ache up to the end. She doesn't try to wrap her family's loss and wounds up in the answers Christians are "supposed" to have. She avoids that temptation. She has to choose, over and over and over again, to see God's heart and admits the battle day after day.
I can't imagine the pain of losing a child in an accident by the hand of one of my other children. But her pain is the focus of the book with a Savior who is "acquainted with grief". She doesn't try to tell her son's story, or even the story of all her contacts through her public husband, or the money they must have had for the weddings of the older children, or vacations, or therapists. She stays focused on her process. She is now acquainted with grief, the grief of a mother, and she helps us understand that there are no easy answers, not even close, for the grief of a mother who family has been invaded by suffering.
I needed this book. Her story also helped remind my heart of the comfort of Christian culture and the hope of heaven. It reminded my heart of some of the given truths of Christianity that can help heal when taken for granted. I was deeply touched by her heart's expression of care for Chinese orphans and the story of Maria's Big House of Hope. Yes, my heart needed to be reminded of the goodness of God in the midst of suffering without it being cliched, rushed, or logically explained. This book also helped my heart to "see".
Thank you, Mary Beth.
jennmair's review against another edition
4.0
I great book about His hope. I laughed and cried. My emotions were all over the place.