Customer Reviews

I'll Hold You In Heaven: Healing and Hope for the Parent Who has Lost a Child through Miscarriage, Stillbirth, Abortion or Early Infant Death

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

What happened to my baby after he/she died? Will I ever see my baby again-and will I recognize him? What happens if I've had an abortion? Does God have a reason for letting my child die? How can I help a friend who's in grief?

These are some of the questions addressed in this thought provoking book. Pastor Jack Hayford approaches the subject in a manner which makes the reader feel he truly empathizes with the situation.

As Pastor Hayford says in his book, "This isn't myth, fable, legend, or a selection of poetic thoughts for the sorrowful. This is truth to set us free. Here we are specifically freed to expect to meet children in heaven, to recognize them and to be with them."

I've had three miscarriages, and wish I'LL HOLD YOU IN HEAVEN had been available for me to read when I was recovering. Not everyone understands what the mother is going through as some offer inane remarks that are not always comforting. In I'LL HOLD YOU IN HEAVEN, Pastor Hayford offers encouragement not only to the mom who miscarried, but also to the parent who lost a baby days or weeks after birth, and to the woman who aborted her baby and later regrets her decision.

If you know someone who recently lost a baby or if you're going through that sorrow yourself, I'LL HOLD YOU IN HEAVEN is a great book to read. It's a book which should be in every church library so it can minister to those hurting. A Remembrance book is also available. I recommend I'LL HOLD YOU IN HEAVEN.

--- reviewed by Laura V. Hilton for Christian Bookshelf

This book is probably very useful for some people, but I found it to be mis-titled and not very useful for me. I bought it after the death of my 19-day-old son, thinking it would help comfort me in my grieving. As I read it, I found it to deal more with loss through abortion than any other type of loss. Not being in that situation, I didn't find it helpful. If you had abortion-related questions, though, it would probably be great.

I recieved this book from a friend after losing my daughter to still birth at nearly 7 months. The comparison of my family's loss to a "flight that departed just a bit early" enraged me rather than provide any comfort. The very fact that the author could make such a shoddy comparison is a clear indicator that a tragedy of this magnitude has never touched his life.
The book continues with what I am sure were meant to be good intentions( which is why I gave 2 stars instead of one) but slowly unravels to a very thinly disguised guilt inducing essay on " aren't you sorry now you had an abortion". This book deals very little with the heartbreak of a death of a baby that you had no power to save, it does nothing to assuage the hearts of the parents of miscarriage, stillbirth, or babies lost shortly after birth.
I do not reccomend this book if any of those events are what you are going thru now.

My wife and I have grieved the loss of 4 babies - three by miscarriage and 1, our son, Joseph, who died at 3 days old. So, unfortunately, I am the heart of the target audience for this book :) I can say that no other book on the subject has helped us as much as this little volume. If you are dealing with the grief that comes from losing a baby, this is a wonderful, comforting book that is biblically based and solid.

After the death of my youngest brother at 14 months, my mom found this book to be very comforting. So much so, that she gives this book to any mother who suffers a loss such as miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death. We keep a copy on hand to give away. Time after time, moms have thanked us for giving them a source of comfort in acknowledging their loss.

I recieved this book after my 3rd pregnancy loss as a companion to a pregnancy loss bible study workbook and I just loved it. It really helped me through the grieving process and guide me to hope through belief in God and heaven that my unborn child is taken care of and one day we will meet. I gained a whole new and healthy perspective on this sad chapter of my life and I believe without reading this book I might not have healed and moved on the way I did.

I have sent this book to a couple of women who have lost infants or had a miscarriage. I myself lost a baby years ago and did not have the privilege of this wonderful and encouraging book. I highly recommend it for mothers who have lost babies and/or who have had miscarriages.

Marilyn Fitzgerald

I was deeply touched by Hayford's vulnerability and candor relating his own journey in the crafting of this book. It is written under the annointing of the Holy Spirit without question and if one will allow it, healing. I have never read any book that so deeply impacted and facilitated my own healing. I give it often to those who have experienced similar loss. What is unique about Hayford's ministration is that it isn't just for women but for all those who have lost children...including men. It is marvelous and tender in its teachings. Ultimately, it is restorative. I gave one to a friend to give to a friend who had grieved the loss of her child in utero. The woman was locked in a holding pattern of grief becoming distant and socially stunted at the Bible studies they attended. This went on month after month. Then she read (and applied) this book. My friend reported that the woman arrived at Bible study the following week a new woman. She was happy, bubbly, excited and informed everyone she'd given her child a name and put him in God's hands. What a magnificent release for a very broken heart. This is not an uncommon effect as a result of allowing the Holy Spirit into our deepest hurts. The only way for this book not to help restore a wounded soul is for a person to reject or refuse its teaching. Painful though it might be, for a moment longer, I encourage those of you hurting from such tremendous loss to let God in...He will heal you. This is a great book to have on hand as a ministry tool for those Christ may bring your way who will benefit from its profound truths. I gave one to my pastor. After reading it, he ordered 5 more. It's annointed, healing, and worth every moment you invest reading it.

I began reading this book after the still birth of my son. I needed something comforting, this is not it. It's a "compasionate" view from a man who has no understanding of the pain he is dealing with and focuses mearly on his soap box on abortion. A tad condescending, I give him a break because he is a good man and a strong leader. He begins with a scripture out of context then explains it failing to back his explaination up with scripture (the biggest downfall of the book - since that is its main focus) or with reasoning. It really just frustrated me as you might be able to tell, and I wonder if Hayford has truely ever felt the loss of someone so close to him. Read "As I lay my Isaac Down" for a truely compassionate and meaty insight filled book on the subject. God bless you if you're searching in this subject, you're not alone.

This was one of the most comforting books I read after my full term stillbirth. The author is sensitive, and sites scripture to back up everything he says. Perfect for the grieving Christian. The one downside is that he talks a lot about abortion, however, he does it in a very non-judgemental way. Although I am pro-life, I believe anyone regretting an abortion would also find extreme comfort from this book. Highly reccommended.