Grieving God's Way by Margaret Brownley

Subtitle: The Path to Lasting Hope and Healing. Thomas Nelson Publishers. I chose this book because I have experienced the loss of three loved ones in the past couple of years. I felt that, if the author could impress me, then she will have really accomplished something.

The promotional material for the book suggests that grief is not something you "get over." It's something you work through. God's way is to realize that grief is necessary, that it takes time, and that God is with you through it all. The most important point for me is that "getting over it" takes a long time. You might think you are fine, but something will remind you of your loved one, and you'll find yourself fighting despair all over again. The author says this is normal. That's why we need to work with our grief to truly heal. We can't just tamp it down and expect it not to come back.

Organized as a 90-day devotional or study, the book is divided into four sections:

• Healing the Grieving Body
• Healing the Grieving Soul
• Healing the Grieving Heart
• Healing the Grieving Spirit

Each day's reading features a scripture, a short discussion of the day's topic, a haiku by co-author Diana Ain, and a sidebar dealing with solutions. Another reviewer pointed out that the brevity of each day's reading is good because people who are grieving often have trouble concentrating. I agree with that assessment.

As began my read-through, I was skeptical. However, I am now persuaded to endorse the book and to go back and read it one day at a time. This would be a great gift book for friends who are grieving.

Check it out on Amazon.com.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”