The book, Hannah’s Gift…Lessons from a Life Fully Lived, requires at least one small box of tissues that have been softened with lotion. This book…made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me sob like nobody’s business…and it made me want to change the way that i look at life with all of it’s ups and downs.
Hannah introduced the power of the human touch to the medical professional’s approach in helping pediatric care patients. She introduced the idea of not limiting the activities of a sick child, when another approach can be considered, without compromising the health of the child. In other words, don’t say no just for the sake of saying no…time is limited…say yes once in a while, and feel the liberation of that!
I can think of all kinds of people that i want to personally recommend this book to. I stayed up last night, until 2:30 this morning, to read it cover to cover; and, I am not sorry for the sacrifice of time.
Hannah is three. She is a life force to be reckoned with. Hannah is diagnosed with a cancerous tumor. She and her family are on a collison course with the depths of their faith. Hannah lives with joy in her red shoes that “fit perfect”. She insists on being given some control in her daily life.
Hannah is an inspiration. Even after her death, she leaves a legacy of living life to the fullest. Hannah teaches many not to fear the opinion of others; not to hold oneself back, by fear. She teaches that life is better living in truth, when you have the facts. She also inspires a closer relationship with the spirit of God.
Hannah’s family was each gifted in the present, and in the future, through knowing her and learning from her short life. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book. If you know someone who is grieving…share the book. If you know someone struggling with cancer…share the book. If you know someone locked in fear…holding themselves back from their joys…share the book.
Hannah’s Gift…touched me in ways that are amazing. Just yesterday, previous to reading the book; I had been blogging on the subject of grieving; at the request of a friend who is grieving the loss of her mother. Part of my blog post referred to my vision of grief as being like an onion…full of layer upon layer of discovery and loss. Hannah’s Gift also, later in the evening of my reading, likened grief to the layers of an onion. God spoke to me at the reading of that. He speaks to us in real ways when we are listening. Just like he spoke to Hannah’s mother through a complete stranger who was encouraged by a Hannah who had passed to create a handmade rug for her mother. Just like he spoke to Hannah’s mother through two other women who made a quilt before Hannah’s death in his usual perfect timing.
My blog post was that everyone grieves differently…and that is ok. The key is not to get stuck in anyone area of grief that is destructive. Hard to avoid…but, necessary for the soul to go on.
Hannah’s Gift was written by Hannah’s mother, Maria Housden. She overcame the despair and depression that her loss caused to go on to write this inspiring book. Truly, God intended her to share her wisdom and her journey. He has changed Maria’s life since that time…it has been a life of meaning. Painful at times, inspiring at times, and he has taught Maria about living in the moment, loving in the moment, letting go with dignity, and teaching through it all.
Hannah’s Gift was copyrighted in 2002 and was published by Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
The Legend of the Valentine is an inspirational children’s book written by Katherine Grace Bond. The story is about young 9 year old Marcus who lives in Alabama during the civil rights movement; as he experiences prejudice, his grandmother teaches him about the power of love.
Young Marcus is bewildered as his father is jailed along with Dr. Martin Luther King; as far as he can see, he didn’t do anything wrong except stand up for people who were treated differently from the white folks.
Marcus’s mother is upset. Grandmother is a great story teller and since it is close to Valentine’s Day, Grandmother decides to tell Marcus about the real Valentine. Valentine was a person back in Rome in the early days of Christianity.
Valentine was also in jail because he worshipped God and not the emperor which was the law at that time. By loving his jailers and praying for the jailer’s blind daughter; she was healed. The jailer became a Christian also.
So Marcus, goes back to school where some of the children treated him poorly because of the color of his skin. He made Valentine’s with his granny for each of them. Travis, the young man who truly showed his prejudiced, came to understand that Marcus was more than the color of his skin because of the other children’s acceptance of Marcus.
Love and forgiveness heals alot. Marcus began to form relationships with the other children in his class after giving out Valentines to his classmates. Marcus followed the teachings of Jesus in loving his “enemies”.
The publisher is ZonderKidz. Their website is: http://zondervan.com/. The book is illustrated by Don Tate; copywrighted in 2001.
Rainy’s Recommendations
