A Gift of Hope: How We Survive Our Tragedies [Paperback]

Robert L. Veninga (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 29, 1996 | ISBN-10: 034541036X | ISBN-13: 978-0345410368 | Edition: 1

Tragedy is a part of life, it is a part of the human mystery which we all must face. A Gift of Hope is a moving, beautifully written book that will give you the understanding and the self-assurance to overcome the anger and the loneliness, the suffering and the pain of your own personal travail: the loss of a loved one, the heartbreak of a handicapped child, a debilitating illness, an unwanted divorce, a severe financial setback. Here is a practical and inspirational guide to help you express your sorrow and begin the process of healing -- to help you move from sadness to serenity, from fear to faith, and to find courage in your moment of crisis.
-- How to identify the stages of grief and recognize your need for help
-- How to soothe the initial panic and relieve the long-term anxiety
-- How to preserve your health, resist self-destructive impulses, and renew your sense of well-being
-- How to draw on family and friends for spiritual solace and emotional support
-- When to seek professional guidance, with a comprehensive list of national organizations

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Crisis, the sage observed, is "Opportunity riding on dangerous winds." And there is, even in the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or a painful divorce, opportunity for renewal, the author, a Minnesota public health administrator, shows. While we go through definite "stages of heartbreak," described in sensitive detail here, we can also use "survival strategies" to combat them, beginning with caring for ourselves physically. Silence about feelings is a killer, according to Veninga, that builds misconceptions, guilt and regret. Families hit by tragedy can be torn apart when its members withdraw into private pain and blame. Sharing is imperative, the author advises, and forgiveness of self and others restores hope and meaning to life. With case histories, apt quotations from philosphers, and a listing of self-help organizations, the book is comprehensive, inspirational and highly readable. First serial to Ladies Home Journal; BOMC alternate; Better Homes & Gardens Book Club selection. Foreign rights: Lescher & Lescher. November 26
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

After suffering the death of a close friend, Veninga (a college professor and author) became interested in how people react to a heartbreaking crisis. His book discusses the stages of heartbreak, methods for survival, and how people change as they recover. Veninga describes self-help strategies, but concentrates more on understanding the emotional processes and stages which are common to any heartbreak. He uses many case studies to describe how most (but not all) people find a new faith in life after a crisis. Although the material is familiar, the treatment is competent, the book well written and comforting. Distinguishing features: a chapter on how to deal with suicide, a list of support and self-help groups, and a list of books on related topics. A good choice for general collections. Margaret B. Allen, M.L.S., formerly with Bennington Free Lib., Vt.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (September 29, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034541036X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345410368
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #139,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A comfort for those who are grieving with no direction, July 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Gift of Hope: How We Survive Our Tragedies (Paperback)

I originally gave this book to my husband four years ago, when he lost both his step-father and his father within a year of each other. Just recently, I also lost my father unexpectedly. This book gives comfort to me when the tears start to flow and words can't express what I am going through. It clearly outlines the stages of grief, and it comforts through the many stories that the author weaves through the book of other's dealings with loss. It is a good book for those who feel overwhelmed with grief or any kind of loss, as you can read one story and put it down and then come back to it when you are ready. We all grieve so differently...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gift of Hope: How We Survive Our Tragedies by Robert L. Veninga [Paperback], September 12, 2005

By 

Alexandra Morrissey "missingdavid" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Gift of Hope: How We Survive Our Tragedies (Mass Market Paperback)

An excellent book for anyone searching for hope in a life that can often be painful and isolating. After the death of our son and then the subsequent birth of our daughter diagnosed with Down Syndrome, I was indeed in need of healing and guidance and hope. I devoured many books and found this one particularly...hopeful. I highly recommend it as reading for anyone and everyone.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This helped me SO much!, March 20, 2010

By 

J. Bitney "Bookworm" (Shell Lake, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Gift of Hope: How We Survive Our Tragedies (Paperback)

I bought the first edition of this book in 1984, when our five-year-old daughter was going through a bone marrow transplant and slowly dying. I needed some comfort. I often read it in secret, not wanting to dash the hopes of my husband but needing shoring up for myself. I lived in the U of MN with her for two months, and even though they did everything that they could, my gut told me what would eventually happen.

This book taught me that there is more than one way to grieve, which was a great help when she died and I found that my husband grieved one way and I another. The difference was that I had been anticipating her death for nearly two years, but my husband did not truly believe that it would ever happen. As a consequence, when she did pass, my grieving was essentially over but his was just beginning. The book helped me to see that this was perfectly normal and it helped me to be supportive of him while being sensitive to him being, I am sure, slightly baffled by my different style of grief. It also helped me focus on both our three-year-old daughter, and the unborn child who would be born seven months later and be diagnosed with the same cancer three months after that. I also learned that I should not feel guilty for the relief which I felt upon her death, for I was finally able to look forward rather than be stuck in the horrible present.

This is an easy read, not heavy with jargon, but rich with examples of hope. It is, in short, "A Gift of Hope".