You Matter More Than You Think: What a Woman Needs to Know about the Difference She Makes [Hardcover]

Leslie Parrott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 2006

Am I making a difference? Does my life matter? 'How can I make a difference when some days I can't even find my keys?' asks award-winning author Leslie Parrott. 'I've never been accused of being methodical, orderly, or linear. So when it came to considering my years on this planet, I did so without a sharpened pencil and a pad of paper. Instead, I walked along Discovery Beach, just a few minutes from our home in Seattle. 'Strange, though. All I seemed to ever bring home from my walks on the beach were little pieces of sea glass. Finding these random pieces eventually became a fixation. And, strangely, with each piece I collected, I felt a sense of calm. What could this mean? What was I to discover from this unintentional collection?' In this poignant and vulnerable book, Leslie shows you how each hodgepodge piece of your life, no matter how haphazard, represents a part of what you do and who you are. While on the surface, none of these pieces may seem to make a terribly dramatic impact, Leslie will show you how they are your life and how when they are collected into a jar---a loving human heart---they become a treasure.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Are you longing to make a difference? A season of soul-searching walks along Discovery Beach in Seattle revealed a secret far too many women never find. In this heartfelt book, Leslie Parrott reveals a personal message sure to keep you from looking at the pieces of your life as mere fragments scattered to and fro by any impulsive tide. Rather, you will soon see that the random fragments of your life---whether it's doing laundry, dashing to the store, tending to either your kids or a full-time job (or both)---mean something. The random pieces of your life hold great potential for making a profound difference. With the help of her Band of Sisters, Leslie shows you how to take the improvised moments of your own life and create a worthy composition of more value than you imagined. You're already making a difference, and the more you understand this difference, the bigger that difference will be. Whether you are married or single, restless or content, wounded or strong, this book, designed for every woman who longs to be more than part of the mainstream, is for you. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Dr. Leslie Parrott is a marriage and family therapist and co-director with her husband, Dr. Les Parrott, of the Center for Relationship Development at Seattle Pacific University. She is the author of First Drop of Rain and God Made You Nose to Toes, and co-author with her husband of several bestselling books, including the Gold Medallion Award-winner Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts. Leslie is a columnist for Today's Christian Woman and has been featured on Oprah, CBS This Morning, CNN, and The View, and in USA Today and the New York Times. Leslie lives in Seattle with her husband and their two sons. www.LesandLeslie.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 18, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310245982
• ISBN-13: 978-0310245988
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #791,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Leslie Parrott is codirector of the Center for Relationship Development and a marriage and family therapist at Seattle Pacific University. She is the author of the Gold Medallion Award-winning book, Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts. She, her husband, and son live in Seattle, WA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A marvelous and inspiring book!, June 28, 2006

By 

Marilyn Johnson "Marilyn Johnson" (Williamston, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: You Matter More Than You Think: What a Woman Needs to Know about the Difference She Makes (Hardcover)

In this delightful book, Leslie Parrott writes about the power of a woman's life and the ways in which a woman can make a difference in the world. So often, women feel that to find purpose in their lives, it's necessary to make major changes or to do something different. Leslie points out that as Christians, we are called to love God and others...that we are already making a difference through our loving acts and words and that we can make an even bigger difference by growing in our ability to love others.

My favorite books are those that are both ennobling AND enabling. Just like Dr. Parrott's earlier books with her husband, You Matter More Than You Think is one of those books. The poetry and personal experiences that she shares will inspire you to want to be a difference maker. And, the practical tips she provides will give you ideas for translating your dreams into reality. Many of the tips are familiar (e.g., allow painful personal experiences to sensitize you to others' wounds, use the observations of discerning friends to help better understand the difference you can make, and grow in graciousness by cultivating a heart of gratitude). But, the way in which Dr. Parrott puts it all together and shares her personal journey will inspire you to apply these truths in new ways. I highly recommend the book!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You do make a difference, February 10, 2007

By 

R. Whitcomb "golfer reader" (Gold Canyon, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: You Matter More Than You Think: What a Woman Needs to Know about the Difference She Makes (Hardcover)

In an easy to read manner, the author guides the reader through a dicussion of how life's challenges and "pieces" help us to grow in our walk in Christ, if we allow this process to take place. I particularly loved how she shared her life's big heartbreak and how she SLOWLY was able to come to grips with how God could use it in her life if she let Him. I found the book difficult to put down and enjoy the Band of Sisters I now have in my life!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Matter More Than You Think, December 19, 2007

By 

Mary "Mary" (Birmingham, AL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: You Matter More Than You Think: What a Woman Needs to Know about the Difference She Makes (Hardcover)

This book was very inspiring for me. It really helped me to see a new perspective on being a woman and a mother.