The Story Jar: The Hair Ribbons/The Yellow Sock/Heart Rings (Palisades Romance Collection) [Paperback]

Deborah Bedford (Author), Angela Elwell Hunt (Author), Robin Lee Hatcher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 5, 2001

Just in time for Mother's Day gift-giving, The Story Jar honors and blesses mothers of all ages for their faithful, enduring love. When a newly-widowed woman shares three stories, Beth Williams draws comfort and encouragement from the lessons learned by other mothers before her. These inspiring novellas are enhanced by tributes to their mothers from Jerry Jenkins, Francine Rivers, and many others. This book will inspire women to rejoice in the gift of children and to rely on the strength of God even as they reverence generations of mothers who have come before them.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Marketed as a Mother's Day title, this book offers three novellas about motherhood, hung along a single story line (the discovery of a long-lost "story jar" in a church) and peppered with short real-life tributes to mothers. Hatcher, Hunt and Bedford all accomplished and well-established Christian writers set out explicitly to honor and encourage mothers. Thankfully, their writing is fresh, insightful and gritty even as it comforts, usually managing to steer clear of the maudlin. The stories profile a mother of two young daughters who faces cancer just as her own mother did before her; a remarried mother working through a difficult relationship with a rebellious runaway daughter turned born-again Christian; and a couple struggling through infertility and the long path to adoption. The book is as much about spirituality and trust in God as it is about motherhood. It captures with surprising sensitivity various scenes of communion with God, and some excruciatingly exquisite moments of parental love. The book would be a far better product without the real-life tributes solicited from a wide range of sources (from well-known Christian writers like Jerry Jenkins to the daughters and grandmothers of the main authors). These are of very uneven quality and disrupt the narrative flow of the novellas. Overall, however, this is a warm, friendly book for Christian women who are trying to raise their children and face their painful problems with both faith and doubt intact. (Mar.)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In a story collection celebrating various aspects of motherhood, the authors relate stories based on items taken from a story jar, a collection of mementos. In "The Hair Ribbons" by Bedford (Homecoming), a pair of ribbons sent through time by a dead mother's love and faith give strength to her daughter as she faces breast cancer, the same disease that killed the mother. "Heart Rings" by Robin Lee Hatcher (Patterns of Love) bridges the generation gap between mother and daughter as they learn to accept each other based on love and not appearances. In "The Yellow Sock," Angela Elwell Hunt (The Immortal) tackles adoption in a moving story reminiscent of Tracie Peterson's The Long-Awaited Child. With letters and anecdotes about motherhood from family members and other authors, such as Jerry Jenkins, Francine Rivers, Lori Copeland, Debbie Macomber, and more, The Story Jar is a delightful addition to any collection.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Publishers (March 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576736997
• ISBN-13: 978-1576736999
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,963,756 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For all who are or would like to be mothers . . ., June 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Story Jar: The Hair Ribbons/The Yellow Sock/Heart Rings (Palisades Romance Collection) (Paperback)

This book isn't just for Mother's Day--if you are a mother, have a mother, or would like to BE a mother, this book is for you. The three authors have given us such different stories--they cover all aspects of motherhood, including the desperate wanting to be a mother an infertile woman feels. A lovely book that's as honest as anything I've read lately. There are no easy answers, but God is faithful. I highly recommend!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!, April 11, 2001

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Story Jar: The Hair Ribbons/The Yellow Sock/Heart Rings (Palisades Romance Collection) (Paperback)

As a young woman is cleaning a church, the pastor's widow arrives for a last look around. They find a jar filled with little trinkets from previous church members. The widow explained the jar was "a story jar" and that each item had a special story behind it. Thus three stories emerge about some of the items.

*** A special book just in time for Mother's Day! In between each novella are poems and short true tales from various other people. Many of them are author names I recognize. However, several are not. I saw some poems from children about their mothers. It was so special and gave me such a warm feeling. The stories are inspirational. I found myself near tears of sadness at times, joy at others, and a few times a feeling of awe and wonder that only another mother could understand. Fabulous! ***

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely!, April 9, 2001

By 

Lisa Samson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Story Jar: The Hair Ribbons/The Yellow Sock/Heart Rings (Palisades Romance Collection) (Paperback)

You won't be disappointed in these tender stories of motherhood. The Story Jar truly celebrates the joys, the heartaches, the fulfillment of being a woman. --Lisa Samson, author of The Church Ladies