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Don't Let Me Go: What My Daughter Taught Me About the Journey Every Parent Must Make

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Don't Let Me Go by David W. Pierce is a beautiful story of a father's quest to strengthen his relationship with his daughter so that he can learn to let go. When Chera Pierce was a little girl, her father, David, and she would play a game in the mirror in which she would interview The Man Who Lived On Top of a Volcano. When she turns 15, she asks her father to climb a mountain with her, and that journey brings both of them to meet that man for real. Pierce and his daughter run a series of marathons and climb several mountains, including Pike's Peak and Mount Rainier . They learn an amazing amount of lessons about each other, faith, and that while you only spend a short time on the summit, you spend far more time training and then traveling to get there. And any good journey will leave you changed forever. Pierce has a wicked sense of humor and portrays their travels with both humor and honesty. Runny noses, 30 mph winds, and blisters, they traveled through it all, and when they were through, Pierce was able to let his little girl go knowing and loving the woman she had become. This is a wonderfully told tale, especially for anyone with children.

This is a lovely story about a father and daughter's relationship. Chera wanted to climb a mountain and she wanted her father to go with her. Their journey was the begining of a series of adventures and challenges that changed both of them forever. They climbed mountains, they ran in marathons, and along the way they learned that even when you don't win, you gain a new undersanding of yourself and of God. As they faced challenges together, they discovered a new realization of the majesty of God's creation, and found a new sense of personal humility. Don't Let Me Go is the story about a father and daughter and their experiences, but it goes even deeper. In some way it is the story of each of us, of the times we thought we couldn't go on, the times we failed, and yes, the times we won. David and Chera were changed forever by what they went through, and in reading their story, we can understand our own experiences a little better. Recommended

Don't Let Me Go: What My Daughter Taught Me About the Journey Every Parent Must Make by David W. Pierce is a book about growing up, letting go, perserverence, testing your strength and determination, and the bond a father and daughter can build doing all of this. When David's 15 year old daughter, Chera, announces she want to climb a mountain, David thinks, "No way!" but says, "Sure. Sounds like fun." Uh, yeah. Over the course of 3 years, they climb 5 mountains and run 2 marathons together . . . and learn valuable lessons along the way. Chera learns how to grow up while David learns to let go. They learn what they are made of. They learn about each other. Most importantly, they learn that the mountain top experiences are short lived; we learn to live our lives in the valleys and we also learn along the journey from valley to summit and back again. Here is my favorite quote from the book:

"[I]t's not always about making it to the summit - it's about going. The summit is small, usually, but you're only there for a moment. But the journey . . . We visit the summits, but we live in the valleys. That's where we train. That's where we prepare. That's where we grow strong.

God can move mountains, that's true. But sometimes he just moves people up mountains - neither is easy, and both are miracles."

David W. Pierce is married to Christian comedienne, Chonda Pierce. Some of the "funny" has clearly rubbed off because David's accounts are very amusing. His self-effacing humor reveals a heartfelt humility. One of the best features of this book -- in my opinion -- is the fact that every chapter begins with a picture of David and/or Chera on their journeys. The family photos really bring the story to life. While Don't Let Me Go focuses on David's relationship with his daughter, he also describes his relationship with his own fathers -- his earthly father and his heavenly One -- how he his relationship with his earthly father caused him to lose God, and how he found Him again.

Don't Let Me Go by David W. Pierce is a great book. I would especially consider buying a copy as an early Father's Day gift.

From the beginning of this book, I sensed that David and Chera have a special relationship, a very close relationship. When fifteen-year-old Chera asked to climb a mountain, David was reluctantly agreeable. Their first adventure would be to conquer Pikes Peak. Along the trail, Chera and David grew closer. Their next father-daughter adventure was to run a marathon. Over the next three-year period, they climbed five mountains and ran two marathons. Along their journey, they draw closer to each other and closer to God.

I was quickly caught up in Don't Let Me Go. David W. Pierce has a pleasant writing style. I felt as though I was sitting across the table from him, sharing a cup of coffee as he told me about their adventures. The story about the angel with the sunglasses was deeply touching. God does provide for our needs. Yes, I believe in angels.

David and Chera's adventures are not over--just beginning.

I would highly recommend David Pierce's Don't Let Me Go: What My Daughter Taught Me About the Journey Every Parent Must Make. [...].

After their first climb together, Pierce referred to a song written by King David which read, "His lightning lights up the world;the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,before the Lord of all the earth" (Psalm 97:4-5, NIV). I was challenged by an aspect of the author's parenting style. He was intentional in creating opportunities to not only spend time with his child - but equally purposeful in conversing with her about her understanding of God, life, and love. As a father I need to begin to think about I will offer similar atmospheres with my children. I already know that Julia gives and receives love through quality time ("So Dad, how was your day?") and Jace responds better to physical touch ("Dad, let's wrestle"). That being said, as they get older, how can I best capture those mentoring moments and compelling aspects of their journey with Christ?

Official Description: One day after reading a book about a wilderness adventurer, David Pierce's fifteen-year-old daughter Chera announced that she wanted to climb a mountain. What David heard behind that wish was a bold declaration: "I'm growing up, Dad--what are you going to do about it?" A few weeks later they bought matching backpacks. Over a three-year period they climbed five mountains and ran in two marathons. Together they suffered sore muscles, bitter cold, sprung knees, shin splints, and broken spirits. But they also reveled in blazing sunsets, glissaded on a glacier, and celebrated numerous victories great and small. And in the process, they built an unshakable father-daughter bond that will stand the tests of time. In this book, the author--the husband of popular Christian comedienne Chonda Pierce--offers a down-to-earth, funny-yet-serious book for parents with the same universal appeal as Bob Carlisle's heart-tugging song, "Butterfly Kisses," only with well-worn running shoes and an ice axe.

I really enjoyed this book. It was the story of a father and teen daughter who bond and experience the joys and pains of adventure sports. Whether mountain climbing or marathon running, the journey they took together was really special as they pushed themselves to try new things together.

Both heartwarming and outright funny, I found myself both laughing and crying and learning more about the training required for people who dare to push themselves. Part of the journey focuses on their attempt to summit on Mt. Rainier. This was interesting to me having known people who made it and those who didn't. I think I'm inspired to try someday! (Do I sound uncommitted?) What a great motivation to be fit! (Review by Shari Dolleman)