A young man must learn to love himself and fight for a better existence despite his religious father's beliefs and sins in this LGBTQ read where suffering makes you know yourself. Booker is a church leader whose double life includes preaching the Bible and abusing his family, especially his son, Bart. Despite his evil acts, he uses morality to argue against lifestyles like homosexuality, even when his son is part of that community. The struggle with what to believe in culminates in a confrontation between Bart and his father-and Bart is ultimately sent away to a group home. But getting past his father's abuse and corrupt people in church turns into a chance to confront indoctrinated truths head-on...no matter the consequences. Reconciling beliefs, upbringing, and trauma changes one man's life in a story that will leave readers riveted by the ways we choose to heal and save our most authentic selves.
“The strong, authentic voices of the women sharing their own narratives and awakenings from life without fathers is the power of this book.” —Esme AAMBC Non-Fiction Self-Help Book of the Year AAMBC Breakout Author of the Year He Never Came Home is a collection of twenty-two personal essays written by girls and women who have been separated from their fathers by way of divorce, abandonment, or death. The contributors to this collection come from a wide range of different backgrounds in terms of race, socioeconomic status, religion, and geographic location. Their essays offer deep insights into the emotions related to losing one’s father, including sadness, indifference, anger, acceptance—and everything in between. This book, edited by Essence magazine’s west coast editor Regina R. Robertson, is first and foremost an offering to young girls and women who have endured the loss of their fathers. But it also speaks to mothers who are raising girls without a father present, offering important perspective into their daughter’s feelings and struggles. The essays in He Never Came Home are organized into three categories: “Divorce,” “Distant,” and “Deceased.” With essays by contributors including Emmy Award-winning actress Regina King, fitness expert and New York Times bestselling author Gabrielle Reece, television comedy writer Jenny Lee—and a foreword by TV news anchor Joy-Ann Reid—this anthology illustrates the journey of the fatherless, and provides a space for these writers to express their pain, hope, and healing, minus any judgments and without apology.
RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES!You may not have found a date yet to start the year. Or your current relationship might be a little bit stale, predictable or rocky. So how can you make 2019 a great year for you?By securing your copy of 7 Steps to Finding, and Keeping, 'The One'! Elaine Sihera is in cracking form in an irreverent, often humorous, and very interesting book! Written from a female perspective, mainly for females over 30, but with lots in it for single males and younger people, too, this little book will answer key relationship questions, and much more. For example, it explains* the mysteries of attraction and how our usual pattern of reaction affects it* how men get hurt repeatedly by going on looks alone* the secret of the chemistry between two people* the true power of self-knowledge and being yourself in finding the right partner* the tell-tale signs of falling in love* the difference between love, passion and lust* fun things to do on a date* dealing with unexpected issues after the date* four key questions to ask yourself, if you're starting a new relationship* how to talk to someone you like for the first time* 6 ways to overcome shyness* how to tell if a guy is only interested in you for sex and what to do about it!* ....and much, much more.7 Steps to Finding, and Keeping, 'The One'! could be the answer for your next step, to show you another way of changing your situation and finding the right date/partner you seek. If what you have been doing has not landed you the right person as yet, perhaps your answer lies within these pages! You have nothing to lose but your fears, and could gain a whole lot more! There are also self assessment quizzes to help you discover your own readiness to find that special person.
The book tells a story of Missy's life journey in how she found the dad she never had. It is packed full of suspense and a life filled with such darkness before finding God. Sharing stories of how she over came abuse and abandonment from a young age. The hardship she experienced from losing everything she owned in a fire and a terrible car accident that left her helpless. Beaten broken and bruised this book shares how God has given her Beauty for Ashes.
This heartwarming picture book reassures children that a parent’s love never lets go—based on the poignant lyrics of JJ Heller’s beloved lullaby “Hand to Hold.” “May the living light inside you be the compass as you go / May you always know you have my hand to hold.” With delightful illustrations and an engaging rhyme scheme, this book offers the promise of security and love every child’s heart longs to know. From skipping stones and counting stars to climbing trees and telling stories, every moment is wrapped snugly in the certain warmth of a parent’s presence and God’s blessing. With poignancy and joy, this bedtime read captures the unconditional love parents want their children to know but so often fail to express amid the chaos of daily life.
The days are long, but the years are short. No matter if it’s your child’s first step, first day of school, or first night tucked away in a new dorm room away from home, there comes a moment when you realize just how quickly the years are flying by. Christian music artist Nichole Nordeman’s profound lyrics in her viral hit “Slow Down” struck a chord with moms everywhere, and now this beautiful four-color book will inspire you to celebrate the everyday moments of motherhood. Filled with thought-provoking writings from Nichole, as well as guest writings from friends including Shauna Niequist and Jen Hatmaker, practical tips, and journaling space for reflection, Slow Down will be a poignant gift for any mom, as well as a treasured keepsake. Take a few moments to reflect and celebrate the privilege of being a parent and getting to watch your little ones grow—and Slow Down. Nichole Nordeman has sold more than 1 million albums as a Christian music artist and has won 9 GMA Dove Awards, including two awards for Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. Nichole released a lyric video for her song “Slow Down,” and it struck a chord with parents everywhere, amassing 14 million views in its first five days. She lives in Oklahoma with her two children.
The instant New York Times bestseller and publishing phenomenon: Marina Keegan’s posthumous collection of award-winning essays and stories “sparkles with talent, humanity, and youth” (O, The Oprah Magazine). Marina Keegan’s star was on the rise when she graduated magna cum laude from Yale in May 2012. She had a play that was to be produced at the New York Fringe Festival and a job waiting for her at The New Yorker. Tragically, five days after graduation, Marina died in a car crash. Marina left behind a rich, deeply expansive trove of writing that, like her title essay, captures the hope, uncertainty, and possibility of her generation. Her short story “Cold Pastoral” was published on NewYorker.com. Her essay “Even Artichokes Have Doubts” was excerpted in the Financial Times, and her book was the focus of a Nicholas Kristof column in The New York Times. Millions of her contemporaries have responded to her work on social media. As Marina wrote: “We can still do anything. We can change our minds. We can start over…We’re so young. We can’t, we MUST not lose this sense of possibility because in the end, it’s all we have.” The Opposite of Loneliness is an unforgettable collection of Marina’s essays and stories that articulates the universal struggle all of us face as we figure out what we aspire to be and how we can harness our talents to impact the world. “How do you mourn the loss of a fiery talent that was barely a tendril before it was snuffed out? Answer: Read this book. A clear-eyed observer of human nature, Keegan could take a clever idea...and make it something beautiful” (People).
A disaffected contract attorney, who would much rather be writing, accepts a mind-numbing job as a document review attorney only to suspect that it's a memory of a mistake which could never be undone. It's only when he stumbles upon a secret library, along with a series of books written by the protagonist of a story he's been meaning to write about for years, that he embarks on a quest for a better future by rewriting his past.
Subsequent siblings, who are sometimes referred to as replacement children, are people who were born after the death of a brother or sister. Little has been written about them or from their perspective. This non-fiction, self-help, psychology book breaks new ground by assembling rich and heartfelt life stories from a diverse group of subsequent siblings while also weaving in clinical literature and discussion. It is based upon more than one hundred subsequent sibling interviews, which, to the authors’ knowledge, currently comprises the largest and most diverse sample of this group. Through the subjects’ engaging narratives the reader can understand some of the common obstacles and repercussions of the subsequent sibling role. Additional testimonies from parents and surviving siblings illuminate the multilayered impacts of loss upon a family system. Those who are born after a deceased sibling enter a family that has been forever changed by loss. This book provides a brief overview of the research on subsequent children and the concept of the replacement child. It examines the parental experience of the death of a child, the complexity of pregnancy after loss, and the intrauterine and attachment experiences of children born after loss. The death of a child causes immense parental pain and impacts parenting approaches, perhaps resulting in impaired bonding or overprotectiveness of subsequent children. Some subsequent siblings are expected, consciously or unconsciously, to serve as a replacement for their lost sibling and to fill the void of loss. A variety of replacement dynamics can occur, and in some instances the subsequent child is viewed as an inadequate substitute for a deceased and idealized sibling. This book explores common issues that are faced by subsequent siblings, which include impaired bonding with parents, a sense of pressure to heal their families, survivor guilt, phobias, difficulties with identity formation, and the shouldering of caretaker roles. Their loss and experiences are often unrecognized because they were born after their sibling's death. Like most mourners, many subsequent siblings need to make meaning of their loss. It is often complex for them to grieve for an unmet sibling, or to integrate their sibling's death into their life story. Many subsequent siblings also recognize strengths that they have gained because of their role. This book includes chapters about surviving siblings and children who were born after a sibling with special needs.
