A couple of years ago my Mom gave me this book as one of my Christmas gifts. She knew that I have always loved the poetry of Helen Steiner Rice. She thought this would be the perfect gift. She just didn't know how perfect. This is my favorite book in the world. It is the absolute best. It held my attention from beginning to end. It was one that I couldn't put down, and since then I have read it over and over.
Ronald Pollitt and Virgina Wiltse write it. It is a hardback book with 219 pages. The copyright date is 1998. It is based on poems, letters, and life stories of Helen Steiner Rice.
Throughout the book you will find 38 of Helen's beautiful and uplifting poems. My all time favorite is on page 39 so you will have to get the book to see which one it is. There are over 50 different stories of people in the book. Most of them include the picture with the story. It is all people who have been hurting, lonely, sad, and depressed or had some type of problem. It tells how Helen's poetry helped them. Some of the people became friends with her. All of the people are someone that was deeply touched by Helen and her wonderful gift from God.
~Twelve Healing Attitudes of Helen Steiner Rice~
1. God loves you. You are never outside of God's care.
2. God hears your every prayer. You are never alone if you can talk to God.
3. God works through you. Loving yourself and others is God at work.
4. God's plan is unfolding even when you do not understand it. Surrender your will to God.
5. God's grace is always found in the present moment. Stay focused on the present.
6. God has not asked only you to cope with problems. They are part of every person's life. Refuse to indulge in self-pity.
7. Rid yourself of negative thinking. You cannot enjoy life when you are filled with complaints.
8. Be grateful for your many blessings.
9. Be kind. Acts of kindness transform the world.
10. Support one another. All of us are a valued part of God's creation.
11. Be cheerful. Happiness is a choice you make every day.
12. Learn from adversity. Your troubles are great teachers.
Chapter 1~The Healing Touch
Helen Steiner Rice had the gift to heal a broken heart with her words of faith and love. She had deep compassion and an incredible gift to write poetry. She got her words from her own personal heartaches and trials. She knew deep pain.
She lost her father suddenly when she was 18. His death took away her dream of attending college and law school. She learned that loss was apart of life and how to accept it and learn from it.
At age 29 she married a wealthy banker. During the Great Depression he lost it all. She was able to find a job, but he did not. He was desperate and ended his life. He left her with a mountain of debt. She chose not to become depressed and bitter, but to accept the cards life dealt her.
For over 50 years she lived alone in a hotel. She was a widow at age 32 and never had children. Her only sister lived over 200 miles away. She was lonely, but she chose to reach out to others. She always knew God was there for her.
She had a degenerative disease affecting the vertebrae in her back. She lived in constant pain. She never complained or felt sorry for herself.
Helen's Pattern for Healing
1. Binding wounds.
2. Accepting what is in faith.
3. Choosing to heal.
Chapter 2~Healing the Pain of Loss
There are all kinds of loss in this world-death of a family member, possessions, dreams, a job. Losses make people change. Helen understood loss, hurt and pain as well as anyone. She could identify with the heartache of others. She provided comfort and strength to those with a heavy heart.
Helen's Pattern for Healing the Pain of Loss
1. Facing and grieving the loss.
2. Accepting that loss is part of life.
3. Transforming the loss.
Chapter 3~Healing the Pain of Adversity
Many times people get bad news and they think Why me? What next? Helen says about this "Our troubles become our greatest teachers". Helen advised people to look at adversity as a way of growing in wisdom.
Helen's Pattern for Healing the Pain of Adversity
1. Understanding that troubles are a part of life.
2. Surrendering the outcome to God.
3. Developing as a person through adversity.
Chapter 4~Healing the Pain of Loneliness
People can be lonely for many different reasons: a death, a move or divorce. Helen believed that loneliness was a state of mind and we have a choice to transcend to it or surrender to it. Helen suggests concentrating on something away from ourselves. She says to try connecting to someone else in a sincere and meaningful way.
Helen's Pattern for Healing the Pain of Loneliness
1. Eliminating self-pity.
2. Connecting with others.
3. Experiencing connection to God.
Chapter 5~Healing the Pain of Depression
There were often times in Helen's life when she was depressed. She knew that "down" feelings was a normal part of life. She suggests staying focused on the present, honestly assessing any situation and accepting what you can't change. There is always one thing you can control-your attitude. Helen recommends replacing negative attitudes with positive thoughts. When you think about bad things remember all of the blessings in your life and be appreciative for what you do have.
Helen's Pattern for Healing the Pain of Depression
1. Stay in the present moment.
2. Counter negative with positive thoughts.
3. Moving out of misery and towards others.
Chapter 6~Healing the Pain of Disability
For many years Helen suffered a painful back condition that also caused a heart condition and shortness of breath. When she spoke of her limitations she called them "Gifts of God's Love".
Helen's Pattern for Healing the Pain of Disability
1. Accepting God's call.
2. Learning from limitations.
3. Finding divine purpose and meaning in life.
Chapter 7~Healing the Pain of Infirmity
Helen's Pattern for Healing the Pain of Infirmity
1. Recognizing limitations.
2. Maintain a cheerful outlook.
3. Growing in acceptance.
Chapter 8~Your Healing Touch
1. Seeing Life Symbolically.
2. Accepting in faith that God has a divine plan.
3. Choosing to live life with love.
Wifeofvolsfan's final recommendation
I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a moving book. Helen Steiner Rice was a remarkable woman with a great gift from God. She was loved by millions and one of the greatest poets this world will ever know. I can't even begin to describe how much this book means to me. It is something I will always treasure. She has written so many beautiful poems that has uplifted me and strengthened me at terrible times in my life.
If you want to be a better person get this book. It will change you.
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