4 out of 4 stars
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Light, hope, peace, and comfort are just some of the foundational words Brette Petway uses to teach her readers about prayer and journaling in her book Prayer is Good: A Path from Grief to Peace. In each chapter of this 12 chapter book, Petway chooses a word and helps readers create a meditative space using Bible verses, colors, candles, flowers, essential oils, incense, and tea. Petway discusses how the word helped her on her own journey, and then she guides readers into prayer and meditation on that word. Coloring and journal pages at the end of each chapter give readers an opportunity to truly interact with the book.
I appreciate the vulnerability that the author shares throughout this book. Petway makes no apologies for her beliefs, and she shares clearly how her sister’s cancer diagnosis and passing impacted her life. As Petway struggled with her own emotions and processing her sister’s situation, she eventually came to a place where she discovered prayer and healing. By seeing how Petway was able to process her thoughts and emotions through prayer and journaling, I gained a better sense of how she intended for readers to use her book.
Another element that I love is the way that Petway encourages readers to make photocopies of the coloring sheets in the book. She wants readers to have multiple opportunities to work with the words and artwork that she provides. Not many artists that I have encountered are so willing to share their artwork in that way, and I found that very refreshing.
Petway claims Christianity as the basis of her faith, and she clearly approaches prayer and meditation as a method of communing with God. That said, she does not focus so much on her relationship with God in this book. Instead, she focuses more on how she uses prayer as an opportunity to process strong emotions and feelings. Even though she uses Bible verses, I did not feel that her book was overly religious. While Christians may find this book the most beneficial, I did not feel that the book limited itself to Christians. Anyone seeking healing through meditation and prayer could potentially use this book.
I give this book a resounding 4 out of 4 stars. It was well edited and easy to read. Petway clearly explains her points and provides plenty of encouragement to her readers. Her concise words and her own emotional journey offer plenty of wisdom to readers.
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Prayer is Good: A Path from Grief to Peace
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