Grieving God's Way [Paperback]

Margaret Brownley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2004

IF Itâ?s been six monthsâ?¦ A year Two years (or more) And you still feel Depressed Joyless Lost Alone IF Youâ?re afraid to tell anyone That youâ?re still grieving For fear theyâ?ll th

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Margaret Brownley considers her writing a living memorial to the loved ones she has lost through the years. Grieving God’s Way is a gift to her son, Kevin, who died seven years ago.

Margaret started her career writing inspirational nonfiction and has published more than four hundred articles in such national magazines as Working Mother, Modern Bride, Westways, Instructor, and McCalls. She wrote a column for two years for a Woman’s Day publication; her inspirational works have appeared in many devotional books including: Saying Goodbye When You Don't Want To (a book for grieving teens, published by Vine Books); A Moment A Day, Still Moments, and Songs From the Heart (Regal Books); and The Walker Within (a first person account of how the author walked her way through grief, published by Lyons Press). Her work has been published in The Catholic Digest, These Days and other inspirational magazines, and she is a contributing editor of Bereavement Magazine, which publishes columns from her book. She wrote several inspirational booklets on social issues for Community Intervention, some of which are on several family "recommended reading" lists.

In addition to her nonfiction experience, Margaret is also the author of 22 novels written for Penguin, St. Martin’s Press, Harlequin, and Time Warner. Her books have appeared on Waldenbooks, B. Dalton, and Ingram’s bestseller lists. Her work appeared in an anthology that made the USA Today bestseller list and was picked up by Doubleday Book Club.

The author has also written for a CBS TV show, and served as a consultant for a show that aired on 48 Hours. Her books have appeared in 14 languages, and an independent producer optioned one of her novels.

Margaret has taught creative writing at the Learning Tree University for eight years, and is much in demand as a speaker. She is presently an editorial associate for Writer’s Digest.

A member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, she is the founder of her church’s Bereavement Care and Grief Center.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Winepress Publishing (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579216641
• ISBN-13: 978-1579216641
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Death & Grief > Grief & Bereavement

More About the Author

Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret penned it all. Nothing wrong with this--except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, "Maybe God's calling you to write fiction."

It turns out God was and Margaret did. She now has more than 20 novels to her credit. In addition, she's written many Christian articles and a non-fiction book. Still, it took a lot of prodding from God before Margaret tried her hand at writing inspirational fiction which led to her Rocky Creek series.

"I love writing about characters at different stages of faith," she says of the new direction her writing career has taken, "and I'm here to stay."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tender, helpful read, April 2, 2005

By 

Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer -... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Grieving God's Way (Paperback)

None of us in this life are allowed the luxury of escaping the loss of someone or something we love. If there is life, there will certainly be death. In this exceptional work, Grieving God's Way,author Margaret Brownley helps us to understand the grieving process and leads us upon the walkway to peace.

In her writing she is open and frank about our grieving experience, yet she laces each expression with comforting Scriptures and insightful wisdom from the Lord.

She shares topics such as, "the Healing Power of Prayer, To Hope Again, God The Beacon, and Where Is God?" She takes some tough subjects and questions that those grieving are certainly screaming out, and gently but with deep conviction speaks the assuring words that are so desperately needed to be heard.

Grieving God's Way is a book written with a fresh approach to dealing with such a personal, intimate and unapproachable emotion, grief. In this work, we find hope, encouragement and a glimmer of peace for the future. I recommend this book and know that the words within it's pages will help bring healing to many.

Shirley Johnson

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Compassionate Story of Facing Loss, May 23, 2006

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grieving God's Way (Paperback)

"Sometimes compassion

offers only outstretched arms

to unburden grief." ~ Diantha Ain

Margaret Brownley is the author of 23 books of fiction and this is a book where she deals with her own reality in all its pain and conflict. She is also the founder of a Bereavement Care and Grief Center. Through her own experiences and the experiences of those around her she has learned a great deal of practical information she now offers to anyone who has unresolved grief and wants to find their way back to their lost joy.

"The soul seeks to grow, to question, and to understand, and this constant search plunges us into dangerous waters and hurls us into hostile space. It's the soul that demands answers from God." ~Margaret Brownley

Grieving God's Way is divided into four main sections that include healing in the areas of Body, Soul, Heart and Spirit. The book starts with gentle breathing exercises and continues through a process of healing each section of hurt and confusion. You will find a place to relax into an understanding that calms and comforts the soul.

The importance of writing, prayer, exercise, getting outside in the sun, lighting candles, remembering good memories and heart-healing ideas are presented with care in a nurturing environment of beautiful writing. I have read many books on grief, but this one is my favorite because it addresses issues in easy-to-read sections and is written by an author who truly understands the grieving process. Grieving God's Way is a very personal journey into the heart.

"Tears comfort the soul

washing away our sorrow

one drop at a time." ~Diantha Ain

~The Rebecca Review

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book came my way at the most opportune time., September 6, 2004

By 

Christian Bookshelf "Christian Bookworm Reviews" (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grieving God's Way (Paperback)

Grieving God's Way came my way at the most opportune time. My family was in the deep clutches of grief, having lost five members of our immediate family (a mother, father, sister, and two aunts) all within only 10 months and two of them within only 8 days. In this book Ms. Brownley fills us with inspiration, uplifting our grieving hearts, and gives us beautiful Haiku poetry written by Diantha Ain, and Scripture verses. The words of deep wisdom seem to come directly from God, touching our deeply grieving souls, showing us what He wants from us and for us and how much he loves us.

Even the texture and feel of the book is comforting. As soon as I picked it up and ran my fingers across its pages, I felt deep peace entering my very soul. The pages are very smooth and bright, the cover is beautifully done -- a picture of bellowing clouds back lighted by the sun and a promising rainbow; the print is large which makes it very easy on the eyes. Each chapter is only one or two pages in length and can be read either as a daily devotional or all at one sitting. I recommend reading it as a daily devotional and savoring every thought and emotion it brings to mind before starting the next chapter. Then start your own journal to record your grief journey.

This is a beautifully written book of healing comfort and helpful advice plus it's filled with Ms. Brownley's own deep feelings and grief experiences of losing a child. She also gives us some very innovative and profound thoughts about our feelings and how we handle this thing called grief. She takes us outside the box and expands our emotions and makes us face grief, standing tall, steady, and ready to bear it. Ms. Brownley shows us the never-ending grace God has for each of us, especially during our grieving process. I highly recommend this book and suggest you buy several to give away to a grieving person. Handing them a copy of Grieving God's Way speaks volumes instead of handing them a bunch of empty words.

"A part of you is missing," Ms. Brownley writes. "So how do we function like a whole person? We start by paying attention to those around us. None of us knows what the future might hold. Each moment, each day is precious and can never be replaced. We can and must be whole again -- even when the gaping hole inside feels like the Grand Canyon. Our surviving loved ones deserve no less from us. Each day we give in to our brokenness is one less day that we give to the people we care about. Each day lived in the past is one less day to build a future. Each day of despair is one less day of joy. Each day consumed by anger is one less day to love."

--- reviewed by Susan J. Shelley for Christian Bookshelf