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Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter: Hope, Help & Encouragement for Hurting Parents

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This book isn't just for parents of prodigal daughters. Those who have prodigal sons or relatives will also benefit from reading this book. The subtitle is Hope, Help & Encouragement for Hurting Parents, and Thompson delivers all three with power and a positive attitude. Every chapter opens with a personalization of Scripture and a quotation that make the reader want to keep reading. "A Praying Mother Shares" comes next. Any adult who has ever prayed for a prodigal will immediately identify with that mother's heartache and determination not to give up. Although I must admit, I had until I read this book. Then Thompson's daughter or another prodigal daughter shares part of her story. Sometimes I laughed, but other times I cried. "The Praying" section goes with the chapter titles of praying daily, Biblically, etc. Sometimes we get caught up in the circumstances and need reminders and further instruction about how to pray. Solid tips abound in the "Parent to Parent" section. I wanted to cut them out and place them on my refrigerator but didn't want to ruin my book. Excerpts from the author's "Prayer Journal" strategically come before the section, "Let's Pray Together." Janet's transparency and humility make it easy for the reader to receive hope, help, and encouragement. Janet has added questions for "Family and Support Group Discussion." How wonderful for prayer groups, Sunday school classes, or counseling groups. The last section of each chapter is "Your Prayer Journal." I looked forward to writing my own prayers for my family. The appendix has a place for a photograph of your prodigal before the 40 days of praying Scripture for her. The blank "Prayer and Praise Journal" has blanks for the reader to write prayer requests and a praise. I highly recommend this book for parents and other relatives. This book needs to be in every church library, Christian counseling center, and in the hands of every pastor and chaplain.

Janet Thompson has expertly pulled together a poignant but practical book that delivers what its subtitle promises: Hope, Help & Encouragement for Hurting Parents. Filled with real-life examples (the author's and others'), Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter includes prayer helps and suggestions, journaling incentives, and questions or family and support group discussion. Whether your praying for a prodigal daughter--or you're the daughter being prayed for--this is the book that walk you through to victory.

Janet Thompson is a gifted writer. Being open and vulnerable, she honestly shares about being both a prodigal daughter herself and the mother of her own prodigal daughter. Included are stories from other parents of prodigal daughters which Janet offers her wisdom and experience. The end result is the feeling that we are not alone, and that through prayer and God's love and faithfulness, there is hope, and victory when our prodigal daughters return better than when they left. Every parent should read this book, because I believe there's a little prodigal in all of us.Thank you Janet for writing a book I could not put down.

When I was researching for a book manuscript on the stages of a woman's life, I thought, Someone should write a book on prodigal daughters. As I studied those years when young women are becoming independent of their parents, I said to myself, it is not always sons who go into a far country. Well, now I am happy to say that Janet Thompson has written that book! And what a book! She has provident an abundance of help and encouragement to parents who long for their prodigals to come home.

This book has inspired me tremendously in a walk that sometimes seems more than I can bear. I ordered this book when I had reached a point that felt as if my prayers would never be answered. I read the first chapter within minutes of receiving the book so that I could get through the rest of that day. My hope is renewed that regardless of my daughter's ultimate decision, that God identifies with my pain, He wants to heal my heart and He will take care of me no matter how things turn out. I have prayed many of the referenced prayers/journal entries, not only for the sake of my daughter, but also for mine. Thank you, Janet for having written this book, even if it were only for me. Any person facing an estranged relationship with their daughter will be encouraged as they read the loving words written in this book.

Janet Thompson is an author and a speaker on topics of importance to Christian women. She has founded several ministries at her home church, Saddleback Church, where Rick Warren is the Pastor. Saddleback Church has produced many ministries under the leadership of Warren, and countless thousands have benefited from its practical, biblical teaching.

Thompson defines a prodigal daughter as "...those daughters who are killing themselves with their destructive choices, have run away from home, or remain missing. I could never describe every scenario each of you, as a parent of a prodigal daughter, has experienced. But one definition of a prodigal we all can agree on is that a prodigal is a daughter who is breaking the hearts of her parents...and of God." In her book, there are stories by many different women who have lived through that heartbreak and are able to offer the benefit of their experiences to help others. Also included are comments from the daughters, revealing what they were thinking and feeling during and after their rebellion.

The story of the prodigal son is familiar to most people. The account in the Book of Luke is not specific about the length of time that the son was away, but it always seemed to me that he hit bottom quite quickly. He then returned to his patiently waiting father and found redemption. Anyone who has experienced a prodigal son or daughter would love to have such a quick resolution. Unfortunately, life usually demands years of patience and prayer with often less than the desired outcomes. In PRAYING FOR YOUR PRODIGAL DAUGHTER, Thompson gently guides the reader to follow the path she used to regain and restore her own child.

Section One consists of practical and spiritual advice on how to pray specifically and biblically. The author details the benefits of keeping a prayer journal and includes prompts for those who have never journaled. In addition, there are discussion questions to stimulate family understanding and support. Section Two contains chapters on praying with purpose, praying as a couple and as a family to break generation sin patterns. Subsequent sections include such chapters as "Setting Boundaries," "Confronting Our Own Mistakes" and "Resolving Conflicts." There is even a chapter that addresses a parent's worst fear: "What if She Never Repents?"

Janet Thompson has written a handbook for hurting parents that can be used by believers and non-believers alike. The heartfelt desire to help and encourage is evident on every page and will benefit those who read it while they pray for their prodigal to return home.

--- Reviewed by Maggie Harding

This book has helped me tremendously....thanks to the writer. I was extremely pleased with the book and I will continue to advise others of it. Thanks again.

Excellent source for helpful tips and prayers and inward soul searching.....Helped me not to feel our situation is the only one out there. Helped me remember that my time is different then God's time and that there is hope that someday our prodigal daughter will find her new life in Christ, change all of her hurtful ways that hinder her from living a truly free life.. and will be able to reconcile and reconnect with all of her family especially us her parents the ones who love her the most here on earth..WLK McGregor TX

Janet Thompson's book, Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter, shows how faith in God can help us overcome negative generational patterns of estrangement and abandonment. Janet's genuine transparency and the involvment of her daughter, Kim, in writing the book shows the impact of persistant and expectant prayer. I found Kim's contributions enlightening. Practical helps at the close of each chapter give the reader an opportunity to practice the principles that Janet found so helpful as she waited for her daughter's return. While I do not have a prodigal daughter, I found this book very helpful to me in understanding the struggles, feelings, and frustrations of my friends who do. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has or knows a prodigal of any age or gender.

In a time of need I searched for help on Amazon with just typing 2 words. Reading this book was like having a mentor by your side encouraging you each day. I still can't believe what has taken place over the last month or so. Never the less
I have this friend now to walk with me daily. Book was in excellent shape & arrived even before I expected!