Dancing on Fields of Sorrow and Blessing


Book Description

Is it possible to right the wrongs of the past? It's a question Wallace Hayes asked himself many times, and the answer is always the same. Yessuh. You see, Wallace knows about the power within all of us because he has seen it in action. Wallace grew up at Summerton Place, the plantation where his grandparents were once slaves and his father was born the illegitimate child of a wealthy landowner. Now the owner of what's left of the once grand plantation, Wallace is determined to bring good from the tragic and painful events of the past. Slavery, rape, abuse, and war happened along the long line of ancient oaks. Two children born, Moses and Hope-one into slavery and one smuggled out, never to be seen again. But God had hold of every event, as He always promised He would. Repentance, forgiveness, and redemption follow, but some things cannot be undone. In an effort to teach others the life-giving power of forgiveness and faith that his father taught him, Wallace decides to share his family's darkest secrets and the sweetest truths of his heritage with three special people. In fact, he has a wish for all of them as they come to terms with their own personal pasts, and Wallace's quest to right the wrongs come full circle. Set in Charleston, South Carolina, Dancing on Fields of Sorrow and Blessing spans three generations of the Summerton-Hayes family, beginning in 1860 on the cusp of the Civil War and ending in the greatest lesson of all-the power not only to change our personal stories but to change the world.




Prayer for a Child


Book Description

Ideal for sharing, this Caldecott Medal–winning beloved classic presents an illustrated prayer full of the intimate gentleness for familiar things, the love of friends and family, and the kindly protection of God. Bless this milk and bless this bread Bless this soft and waiting bed Where I presently shall be Wrapped in sweet security Winner of the Caldecott Medal and in print since 1941, this is a prayer for boys and girls all over the world. It carries a universal appeal for all ages and brings to our hearts and minds the deep responsibility of preserving for all times the faith and hopes of little children.




The Language of Blessing


Book Description

Most people have no idea who they were created to be, nor what their own unique gifts and talents are. So how can we recognize and affirm these things in others—especially if we were not encouraged ourselves as we were growing up? How can we change course and learn a language of blessing that will lead to positive change in all of our key personal and professional relationships? In The Language of Blessing, Joe Cavanaugh gives us practical tools to recognize our own gifts and those of others and to use our newfound “language” to bless the ones we care about, breaking a destructive generational cycle and setting a new course for our loved ones’ futures.




Everyday Blessings


Book Description

The bestselling author of the million-copy bestseller Wherever You Go, There You Are and Full Catastrophe Living joins forces with his wife, Myla, in this revised edition of their groundbreaking book about mindfulness in parenting children of all ages. Updated with new material -- including an all new introduction and expanded practices in the epilogue -- Everyday Blessings remains one of the few books on parenting that embraces the emotional, intuitive, and deeply personal experience of being a parent, applying the groundbreaking "mind/body connection" expertise from global mindfulness leader, Jon Kabat-Zinn and his wife, Myla Kabat-Zinn. Mindfulness is a way of living and there is increasing scientific evidence of its value for optimal health and well-being. A new field in psychology is devoted to mindful parenting, and mindfulness is being increasingly integrated into K-12 education. There has never been a better time for cultivating greater mindfulness in parenting and in family life.




Bless Our Workforce


Book Description

Bless Our Workforce explores the career narratives of 13 Jewish community professionals. Each uncovers a "big idea," which I call a blessing, supported by management best practice and the wisdom of Jewish tradition, to help us better motivate, honor, and show how we value the professional talent who serve Jewish life. Bless Our Workforce follows this golden rule: If we deeply get to know who we work with, we can better motivate and inspire them so each feels blessed at work. Bless Our Workforce believes that we have every ability, and all the magic in our hearts, souls, and collective might, to make the Jewish sector the best place possible to work, to align our intentions with our actions so each Jewish community professional can reach their full potential. How will you Bless Your Workforce?




Count Your Blessings


Book Description

Blessing, a young woman living in the West African highlands, must cleverly use what is available to her since it is dry season, and food and money are scarce. The heroine uses her creativity and kindness to cultivate a sense of abundance during times of scarcity.




The Blessing Of A Skinned Knee


Book Description

The beloved bestseller that offers a practical, inspiring new roadmap for raising self-reliant, ethical, and compassionate children. In the trenches of a typical day, every parent encounters a child afflicted with ingratitude and entitlement. In a world where material abundance abounds, parents want so badly to raise self-disciplined, appreciative, and resourceful children who are not spoiled by the plentitude around them. But how to accomplish this feat? The answer has eluded the best-intentioned mothers and fathers who overprotect, overindulge, and overschedule their children's lives. Dr. Mogel helps parents learn how to turn their children's worst traits into their greatest attributes. Starting with stories of everyday parenting problems and examining them through the lens of the Torah, the Talmud, and important Jewish teachings, The Blessing of a Skinned Knee shows parents how to teach children to honor their parents and to respect others, escape the danger of overvaluing children's need for self-expression so that their kids don't become "little attorneys," accept that their children are both ordinary and unique, and treasure the power and holiness of the present moment. It is Mogel's singular achievement that she makes these teachings relevant for any era and any household of any faith. A unique parenting book, designed for use both in the home and in parenting classes, with an on-line teaching guide to help facilitate its use, The Blessing of a Skinned Knee is both inspiring and effective in the day-to-day challenge of raising self-reliant children.




99 Blessings


Book Description

Source of all blessings, you bless us with dreams-dreams while we sleep and dreams in our most wakeful moments. May I be responsive to both forms of dreams and pass these blessings on by living a life that is faithful to their guidance. From beloved author Brother David Steindl-Rast comes this beautiful collection of original blessings meant to guide readers through each day with wisdom and spirit. This gift book of ninety-nine personal and original blessings from Brother David Steindl-Rast, known for his pioneering work in interfaith dialogue, marks the first time the member of the Benedictine Order of Catholic monks has crafted a series of prayers for the general reader-from Catholics to Protestants, Jews and Muslims, agnostics and uncertain. Blessings are life-giving only as long as we pass them on, so this book is meant to be shared with friends, family, coworkers, strangers, and anyone in need of a few words of inspiration and guidance.




Double Blessing


Book Description

God doesn't bless us to raise our standard of living. God blesses us to raise our standard of giving, and that's where true joy is found. The New York Times bestselling author of Chase the Lion challenges us not to settle for half of what God offers when it comes to blessings—we are BLESSED to BLESS. His discovery started with a simple experiment. Whenever Batterson received a blessing, he would give a similar blessing away. If someone paid him a compliment or gave him a gift or went out of their way to help him, he would return the favor by doing something similar for someone else. We flip the blessing by blessing others in the way God has blessed us. That’s how the blessing becomes a double blessing. It turns giving into a game—one we can’t win because God will always outgive us! It’s an ancient truth found within the Abrahamic covenant: “I will bless you . . . and you will be a blessing.” In other words, we are blessed to bless. The first blessing is receiving, but it doesn’t end there. The second blessing is giving it away! That’s the double blessing. And that’s where double joy is found. In a day and age where the idea of blessing has been reduced to a hashtag (#blessed), Batterson challenges readers to pursue true, God-glorifying blessing and experience an exponential impact by participating in the double blessing. Don’t settle for half of what God offers. Discover how you can both get it and give it . . . in Double Blessing.




Blessed by Our Brokenness


Book Description

With compassion and hope, spiritual writer Sr. Anne Field helps us face the inevitable losses we experience through aging, illness, and other causes of suffering. She gently urges readers to choose freely to replace gloomy attitudes of self pity with God’s perspectives on pain and disabilities. God, she says, does not want to burden us with more losses but wants to strengthen us to bear our suffering. The Lord wants us to find meaning in life by growing deeper in faith and love and extending his kingdom on earth through our losses, not in spite of them.