"A memoir of courage, survival, and faith. It traces the journey of a young woman who discovers herself in the stories of other women who share her name and coincidentally share similar histories of violence and abuse. Her travels across the country become an emotional journey as well. She embraces each woman she meets, is strengthened by their connections, confronts the father that abused her, and ultimately finds faith, divine purpose, and wholeness."--Page 4 of cover
Trauma, from domestic violence to bullying, is like being pierced with a sword. This powerful 118 page workbook helps people of all ages remove that sword, heal the wound and reclaim a life of joy and happiness. It is used as a tool by therapists, support groups, teachers and community education programs. You can use the workbook in a group, on your own or with your therapist.
In this Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year, Paula Young Shelton, daughter of Civil Rights activist Andrew Young, brings a child’s unique perspective to an important chapter in America’s history. Paula grew up in the deep south, in a world where whites had and blacks did not. With an activist father and a community of leaders surrounding her, including Uncle Martin (Martin Luther King), Paula watched and listened to the struggles, eventually joining with her family—and thousands of others—in the historic march from Selma to Montgomery. Poignant, moving, and hopeful, this is an intimate look at the birth of the Civil Rights Movement.
All families eventually face the loss of a loved one. When it happens, it can place great strain on a marriage, as well as on other relationships. That's partly because we don't know what to do with our feelings and partly because every family member grieves in his or her own way. In this book, Nancy and David Guthrie explore the family dynamics involved when a loved one dies—and debunk some myths about family grief. Through their own experiences of losing two young children and interviews with those who've faced losing spouses and parents, they show how grief can actually pull a family closer together rather than tearing it apart.
This collection weaves together the personal narratives of a group of diverse scholars in academia in order to reflect on the ways that grief and hope matter for those situated within higher education. Each chapter explores a unique aspect of grief and loss, from experiencing a personal tragedy such as the loss of a loved one, to national and international grief such as campus shootings and refugee camp experiences, to experiencing racism and microaggressions as a woman of color in academia, to the implications of religious differences severing personal ties as an individual navigates research and academic studies. Unlike most resources examining grief, this collection pushes beyond notions of sorrow as solely individual, and instead situates moments of loss and hurt as ones that matter politically, academically, professionally, and personally. The editors and their authors offer pathways forward to academics, researchers, teachers, pedagogues, and thinkers who grapple with grief in a variety of forms, transforming this book into a critical resource of hope to those in the field of education (and others) who may feel the effects of an otherwise solitary journey of grief, to create an awareness of solidarity and support that some may not realize exists within academic circles.
A Goodreads “Best Contemporary Women’s Fiction” Listopia Book A Goodreads “Favorite Chick-Lit/Women’s Fiction Books” Listopia Book 5-STAR AMAZON REVIEWS "Expertly written." - meg "Prepare to cry." - quilter 218 "Complicated and hard to put down." - SusieS "Gripping Tale of Healing with a Dose of Humor." - GranJan "Sensitive Approach to a Traumatic and Difficult Topic-- Particularly as the First Time Book of This Author." - Sheila "A beautiful book about hope and recovery for sexual abuse victims." - Dr. Patricia K. Martin, Clinical Psychologist "This book brings new understanding of the great effort it takes to overcome the long-lasting effects of such traumas and the importance of support that sometimes comes from even the most unlikely sources." - GiGi2 5-STAR GOODREADS REVIEWS "This was a powerful and almost haunting read. It was good the book had a forewarning. The healing of our souls, when faced with such unmitigated horror, is a task indeed. Superbly written. Tears and mental anguish encompass the pages. Raw and honest." - Julie H. "An emotional story of a woman coming back after closing herself off after being raped. Mack's depiction of the emotions and healing path are spot on. At times, it's so raw and real that it's almost hard to read. Inspirational, raw, and beautiful." - Samantha "Although the recovery time was fast in only a year it is one of the best fictional portrayals of PTSD that I have read." - Kara "Awesome book! Loved the story line, loved the characters. Couldn't put it down, but then I was sad when it ended. It dealt with a difficult subject, but would be good for young girls to read to know that this doesn't have to happen to them." - Carol 5-STAR NET GALLY REVIEWS "While this read has to do with heavy topics, triggers, trauma and everything that comes along with it... it's also a book about healing and I think changing the narrative and giving people hope that they can heal from something like this is incredibly important." - Hazel P. "8/10! Amazing book I loved it. Once I really got into it I couldn’t put it down. I was disappointed there wasn’t much of a reunion with Matty and her parents. I felt that was a bit disappointing. I want to know more about how Matty moves on and her future. I am so excited for book two! And the view it’s going to be." - Meghan K. "Hard to read at times but enjoyed it." - Teresa T. Since sprinting away from her sister's wedding (and knocking over a bridesmaid in the process) Matty Bell has lived in a self-made monochromatic life of work-eat-sleep-survive. In and out of work, she hasn't seen her family in over a decade, lives vicariously through her best friend's seemingly perfect life. And the only goal she has (other than filling her stomach) is to avoid any and all reminders of her birthday. It only brings her pain. But when life catches up with Matty on the night of her surprise 30th birthday, she sets out on a nerve-wreaking last-minute trip home to confront her family that might just result in her coming full-healing-circle. Except, showing up unannounced has Matty staying at her sister's ocean front home, alone, with only thoughts of that buffet-of-a-man she sat next to on the plane dancing in her head. And there's also that pile of left over paint, daring her to take redemption into her own hands. From the author of "Hard-Hitting Fiction, with a Dose of Healing-Humor," comes a serious yet laughter-filled healing story of one's woman journey to reclaim her life, find inner-peace, and stumble into love...
Discover the power, joy, and love of living a present, authentic, and intentional life despite a world full of distractions. If technology is the new addiction, then multitasking is the new marching order. We check our email while cooking dinner, send a text while bathing the kids, and spend more time looking into electronic screens than into the eyes of our loved ones. With our never-ending to-do lists and jam-packed schedules, it's no wonder we're distracted. But this isn't the way it has to be. Special education teacher, New York Times bestselling author, and mother Rachel Macy Stafford says enough is enough. Tired of losing track of what matters most in life, Rachel began practicing simple strategies that enabled her to momentarily let go of largely meaningless distractions and engage in meaningful soul-to-soul connections. Finding balance doesn't mean giving up all technology forever. And it doesn't mean forgoing our jobs and responsibilities. What it does mean is seizing the little moments that life offers us to engage in real and meaningful interaction. In these pages, Rachel guides you through how to: Acknowledge the cost of your distraction Make purposeful connection with your family Give your kids the gift of your undivided attention Silence your inner critic Let go of the guilt from past mistakes And move forward with compassion and gratefulness So join Rachel and go hands-free. Discover what happens when you choose to open your heart--and your hands--to the possibilities of each God-given moment.
A compassionate, shame-free guide for your darkest days “A one-of-a-kind book . . . to read for yourself or give to a struggling friend or loved one without the fear that depression and suicidal thoughts will be minimized, medicalized or over-spiritualized.”—Kay Warren, cofounder of Saddleback Church What happens when loving Jesus doesn’t cure you of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? You might be crushed by shame over your mental illness, only to be told by well-meaning Christians to “choose joy” and “pray more.” So you beg God to take away the pain, but nothing eases the ache inside. As darkness lingers and color drains from your world, you’re left wondering if God has abandoned you. You just want a way out. But there’s hope. In I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die, Sarah J. Robinson offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Sarah shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church. Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in our deepest anguish and discover that you are worth everything it takes to get better. Beautifully written and full of hard-won wisdom, I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die offers a path toward a rich, hope-filled life in Christ, even when healing doesn’t look like what you expect.
