PDF Send My Roots Rain A Companion on the Grief Journey Kim Langley Books

Product details Paperback 160 pages Publisher Paraclete Press (April 9, 2019) Language English ISBN-10 1612619495

Send My Roots Rain A Companion on the Grief Journey Kim Langley Books Reviews

• Years ago in a time of grief, someone dear to me brought a basket filled with things she hoped might help. It included flowers from her garden, homemade muffins, and tea. I didn’t believe I’d ever want to feel better. But I was soothed by the memory of her hands holding it out at my doorstep. The round bowl of that sturdy basket, which I kept in my kitchen for a long time, seemed to gather and hold something in me.
  
  Kim Langley’s extraordinary book, "Send My Roots Rain," is the most generous basket imaginable. It is woven together with poems chosen to resonate with and hold a grieving reader. It is filled with personal stories, quotes, mindful activities, reflections, and Kim’s gentle wisdom. There are no “shoulds” here, only offerings held out by truly caring hands.
• Kim Langley has expertly curated a collection of poems to soothe the soul, to foster connection, and to ground one’s self in the deeper meaning within the inevitable broken and wounded pieces of life. All throughout this book I found resonance, newness of perspective, and familiar old wisdom inviting me to reflect and slow down with my own experiences as well as those of my loved ones. If you are a lover of poetry, this book is for you. If you are unfamiliar with or intimidated by poetry, this book is for you. Not only has Ms. Langley gathered a treasury of poems on grief and loss, she offers her own reflection, poses questions to guide your further contemplation, and brings it home with an extra and apt quotation for each and every poem. These additional pieces really do make it feel like the book is a companion and guided meditation on grief and life- not just a compilation of poetry on loss.
  
  As a chaplain and spiritual director myself, this book will soon become a go-to tool in my ministry toolkit. Especially if you’ve ever wanted to know how to use poetry in your ministry, counseling, or therapeutic setting of any kind but weren’t quite sure how to do so, this book is for you. Ms. Langley also includes a variety of mindful activities to use with the poems.
  
  I honestly can’t recommend this book enough. Whether you or some you love or work with is grieving- which if we’re honest includes everyone!- this book is worth every penny.
• My grandfather's death is my earliest memory. Years later playing with the doll bed that he made me, I asked my mom "How old was I when Grandpa Thuresson died?" She said, "Three." While I don't remember my Grandpa Thuresson, I do remember death. The sunlight streams through the venetian blinds laying black stripes across my mom and dad. My mom is sobbing. I have never seen her cry before. My dad is holding her, wordless, looking helpless. Invisible to them, I creep back to my bedroom and pull the covers over my head to not lose myself.
  Send My Roots Rain . . . A Companion on the Grief Journey by Kim Langley will not only give you writing and words to see you through loss but will comfort you with many tugs and hugs of recognition to ease your sorrow. I recommend this book.
• Kim’s book has been a surprising treasure to me. Im grateful for the recommendation from a friend to pick it up. As a chaplain in training, I work with patients and families walking with grief. I’m also aware of my own deep grief that has long lived “under my porch.” I wasn’t aware how unapproachable other books on grief were until reading Kim’s book. There is no prescription, little presumption, and a lot of room for movement within the words found within its pages. This book is for anyone and everyone - not just those dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. In Kim’s book, there is an acknowledgment that grief wears many masks and shows up in surprising ways. Grab a highlighter, a pen and a journal as you’ll find yourself either wanting to copy quotes or dive in with self reflection as you read.
• This books is lovingly and carefully crafted so that a griever might feel joined through poetry and the author's thoughtful reflections. Langley's voice is that of a compassionate friend who has collected the wisdom of the poets, teachers, and sages to offer to us as refreshment in the desert of grief.
  
  It is reflection through poetry made accessible for the poetry-lover and the poetry-wary alike -- the reflections are both open and practical, offering the griever an invitation and a foothold. As a hospital chaplain, I cherish this book not only for what it offers in my own life, but as an invaluable resource for leading grief groups and chapel services.
  
  This is also a great book to give as a gift to a friend or a family member who is in grief.
• As an ordained minister for 36 years, I have walked with many people through the grief journey...and have, of course, grieved many kinds of losses myself. Kim's book will be an invaluable resource for me and one I will be recommending to many others. She has selected poetry with depth of meaning and quotes that evoke helpful questions. Her "Mindful Activities" section is full of practical suggestions for people at every stage of grief. I especially appreciate her solid theological stance ("yes, bad things happen to good people), her suggestions about what to say to others who are grieving, and her constant reassurance that caring for ourselves is right and important. I will be ordering more copies to give to friends and relatives...
• Send My Roots Rain is filled with a collection carefully gathered poems, heartfelt reflections, quotes, and mindful activities for anyone to explore the depths of grief. I found reading the poems along with reflections and mindful activities comforting and encouraging. Kim is a gifted writer sharing her passion with real life experience and humor! I have bought several for gifts for family/ friends who have lost a loved one. This book will also be helpful for anyone in the helping profession or walking with someone on a grief journey. The reflections are written with genuine depth, understanding, acceptance, and compassion on the delicate subject of grief.