Book Review: CHOOSE JOY: FINDING HOPE AND PURPOSE WHEN LIFE HURTS

Good morning! I hope this post finds you well. :) Life has been different and busy, and I really am sorry for dropping off the face of the earth. :D

Today I want to tell you about this book; I am on the launch team, and the book goes on sale TOMORROW! You can find out a lot more on the book's website, including places it's available. Because I don't want you to miss this book.

Here's the "official" synopsis of the book:

Sara Frankl knew she had a terminal disease, but she didn't let it stop her from living. In the face of immeasurable pain, Sara chose joy--again and again. Her unforgettable message of hope and purpose lives on, even after her death, in her words.

CHOOSE JOY is a compilation of the lessons Sara learned while she was dying, written in her own words and sewn together by her close friend Mary Carver. It is a reminder to see the beauty in life, even when it looks nothing like you hoped or planned.

In a world full of tragedy, choosing joy is no small task--but, as Sara knew, the importance lies in the choosing. Once you learn to make that choice, every day, no matter what happens, joy will come.

This book has been a true life-changer for me. It helped me to have a couple of difficult discussions about my own health with loved ones, conversations that are they types I avoid at all costs. It has challenged me, made me examine my own heart and walk with Jesus, and helped me (by Sara's ability to put what she believes about healing into words) to have peace that what I believe may not be so whacked, after all. :)

 

 I've already told my mom she NEEDS to read this book; there are several people I know who may be getting a copy from me during the year. Life is not easy; just because we have Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior doesn't mean everything is going to be smooth sailing, or that we can have everything we WANT. That includes health and wealth - and I think we get in real trouble when we believe otherwise. (Disagree all you want, but I won't get into it any further! :D )

Sara's words will make you laugh and cry; Mary's way of knitting her blog writings together into a cohesive whole makes the book flow easily. Not only is it broken into chapters - SO many great topics! - but each chapter is also broken up, so if you only have time for a page or two at a time, you'll still be able to really chew on the meaning of what you've read.

I had never heard of Sara Frankl before joining this book team; what I've read makes me wish I had known her when she was alive. Her deep faith in Christ continues to point the way to Him through this book - and I look forward to spending eternity with her.

I can't pick my favorite part of the book! There's SO MUCH richness here. I will read it again and again throughout my life; I need the reminder to choose joy in the middle of pain, of trial, of hard times. And to hear it from someone who actually made the choice herself - there's a depth to that voice I can't explain.

I guess you'll just have to read for yourself!

(All images in this post were given to the launch team to use for promotion during the pre-launch efforts.)