Unexpected Gifts

Unexpected Gifts
Author: Christopher L Heuertz
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 235
Release: 2013-01-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1451652267

In this heartfelt and thoughtful book, Christopher Heuertz writes of the dangers of isolation, the challenges we face when we join together and the struggles and joys that emerge from genuine community bonding. “Ironically, as much as we yearn for deep friendships and meaningful communities, many of us seem to be unable to find our way into them. Even if we know we’re made for community, finding one and staying there seems almost impossible. Though we hate to admit it, if we stay long enough in any relationship or set of friendships, we will experience failure, doubt, burnout, loneliness, transitions, a loss of self, betrayal, frustration, a sense of entitlement, grief, and weariness. Yet it’s these painful community experiences, these tensions we struggle to navigate, that hold surprising gifts.” —FROM THE PREFACE IN A STRIKINGLY confessional tone and vividly illustrated through story, Unexpected Gifts names eleven inevitable challenges that all friendships, relationships, and communities experience if they stay together long enough. Rather than allowing these challenges to become excuses to leave, Chris Heuertz suggests that things like betrayal, transitions, failure, loss of identity, entitlement, and doubt may actually be invitations to stay. And if we stay, these challenges can become unexpected gifts. *** Betrayal, failure, loss of identity, doubt. If your relationships have suffered from any of these pitfalls, this book will show you that staying together can create something more—even something beautiful. IN THIS HEARTFELT and thoughtful book, Christopher Heuertz writes of the dangers of isolation, the challenges we face when we join together, and the struggles and joys that emerge from genuine community bonding. Whether readers are forming a new community, searching for deeper community, or participating in a longtime community, they will find inspiration, caution, guidance, and encouragement as they discover the beauty of pressing in to the ambiguities of growing relationships in this tender and honest testimony about how we are woven together by grace.

Unexpected Gifts

Unexpected Gifts
Author: Christopher L Heuertz
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 235
Release: 2013-01-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1451654650

In this heartfelt and thoughtful book, Christopher Heuertz writes of the dangers of isolation, the challenges we face when we join together and the struggles and joys that emerge from genuine community bonding. “Ironically, as much as we yearn for deep friendships and meaningful communities, many of us seem to be unable to find our way into them. Even if we know we’re made for community, finding one and staying there seems almost impossible. Though we hate to admit it, if we stay long enough in any relationship or set of friendships, we will experience failure, doubt, burnout, loneliness, transitions, a loss of self, betrayal, frustration, a sense of entitlement, grief, and weariness. Yet it’s these painful community experiences, these tensions we struggle to navigate, that hold surprising gifts.” —FROM THE PREFACE IN A STRIKINGLY confessional tone and vividly illustrated through story, Unexpected Gifts names eleven inevitable challenges that all friendships, relationships, and communities experience if they stay together long enough. Rather than allowing these challenges to become excuses to leave, Chris Heuertz suggests that things like betrayal, transitions, failure, loss of identity, entitlement, and doubt may actually be invitations to stay. And if we stay, these challenges can become unexpected gifts. *** Betrayal, failure, loss of identity, doubt. If your relationships have suffered from any of these pitfalls, this book will show you that staying together can create something more—even something beautiful. IN THIS HEARTFELT and thoughtful book, Christopher Heuertz writes of the dangers of isolation, the challenges we face when we join together, and the struggles and joys that emerge from genuine community bonding. Whether readers are forming a new community, searching for deeper community, or participating in a longtime community, they will find inspiration, caution, guidance, and encouragement as they discover the beauty of pressing in to the ambiguities of growing relationships in this tender and honest testimony about how we are woven together by grace.

Discovering Unexpected Gifts

Discovering Unexpected Gifts
Author: Stephen Now
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Total Pages: 96
Release: 2021-06-22
Genre: Self-Help
ISBN: 1641466294

What attitudes make the difference between failure and success? In Discovering Unexpected Gifts, author Stephen Now gives us a way to illuminate life’s experiences, through his reflections on loss, love, fear, rejection, healing, and acceptance. Listeners hear how the author is transformed by challenging and joyful experiences, both “gifts,” and explaining how to assign value to both the events, some that are clearly blessings, as well as the ones that seem like obvious setbacks. He demonstrates the idea that life experience need not be a series of successes or achievements to be beautiful. Discovering Unexpected Gifts points to something beyond ourselves as we begin to understand we play a part in bringing unexpected gifts to others—and in so doing find meaning, purpose, and joy.

Homesick and Happy

Homesick and Happy
Author: Michael Thompson
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2012-05-01
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 0345524934

An insightful and powerful look at the magic of summer camp—and why it is so important for children to be away from home . . . if only for a little while. In an age when it’s the rare child who walks to school on his own, the thought of sending your “little ones” off to sleep-away camp can be overwhelming—for you and for them. But parents’ first instinct—to shelter their offspring above all else—is actually depriving kids of the major developmental milestones that occur through letting them go—and watching them come back transformed. In Homesick and Happy, renowned child psychologist Michael Thompson, PhD, shares a strong argument for, and a vital guide to, this brief loosening of ties. A great champion of summer camp, he explains how camp ushers your children into a thrilling world offering an environment that most of us at home cannot: an electronics-free zone, a multigenerational community, meaningful daily rituals like group meals and cabin clean-up, and a place where time simply slows down. In the buggy woods, icy swims, campfire sing-alongs, and daring adventures, children have emotionally significant and character-building experiences; they often grow in ways that surprise even themselves; they make lifelong memories and cherished friends. Thompson shows how children who are away from their parents can be both homesick and happy, scared and successful, anxious and exuberant. When kids go to camp—for a week, a month, or the whole summer—they can experience some of the greatest maturation of their lives, and return more independent, strong, and healthy.

Unexpected Gifts

Unexpected Gifts
Author: Elena Aitken
Publisher: Elena Aitken
Total Pages: 165
Release: 2011-11-11
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0987745743

Snowed in for Christmas…She only wants to ignore it. But he’s determined to show her everything the season has to offer…including love. For Andi Williams, Christmas represents everything she’s supposed to have—and doesn’t. Running away to a remote mountain lodge seems like the perfect way to escape the season. And it would have been if it weren’t for the snow storm and a booking mix-up that finds her stranded. That is, until a rough around the edges, green eyed stranger offers a solution. There was no way in good conscience that Colin Hartford could leave the woman with nowhere to stay. Especially on Christmas. He knows all too well what it’s like to be alone for the holidays. It isn’t long before Colin’s determination to enjoy the festivities he’s missed for so long sweeps Andi into the season of joy that she’s not so sure she’s ready for. If Andi can allow herself to open up—just a little—she might finally have the chance to experience everything the holidays can really offer…including love.

The Gift of Joy

The Gift of Joy
Author: Kristen McKanagh
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 305
Release: 2022-04-26
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 059319988X

Life is full of joy when it's least expected in this sweet Amish romance from the author of The Gift of Hope. Joshua Kanagy’s older brother has left the family gift shop business, which is wonderful gute for Aaron, but not for Joshua. Horses are his talent—raising and training them. But how can Joshua step away from the shop when his parents have already had to give up the dream of leaving their legacy to all three of their sons? Enter Joy Yoder, a determined, if sometimes misguided, helper who always manages to drag Joshua into her schemes and promises. Only now her focus turns to finding a solution to his problem, partly to distract from her own. Her mamm has her heart set on Joy marrying the minister’s son, and she’s not sure she wants to. Joy gets the grand idea to propose to Joshua, offering a partnership of convenience rather than love. But as the wedding approaches, Joy starts to develop feelings for Joshua. Is it possible Gotte’s plan for Joy includes faith, friendship, and love?

The Gift of Hope

The Gift of Hope
Author: Kristen McKanagh
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2021-04-27
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0593199863

A cheerful giver is twice blessed in this first novel in an Amish series by Kristen McKanagh. Hope Beiler needs Aaron Kanagy’s help. She is determined to give her sister a beautiful new bed frame as a wedding present, and Aaron is the best carpenter in Charity Creek. Unfortunately, she can’t move past something he said last year…and there’s unexplained animosity between their fathers that makes interacting difficult. Aaron wishes he could spend more time honing his woodworking craft, but his parents need help running their gift shop. When Hope approaches him with a solution that will allow them both to achieve their goals, he accepts. As they work together, Aaron finds himself captivated by Hope, and it becomes easy to picture a lifetime partnership together. Unfortunately, Hope’s already wounded pride means she doesn’t give Aaron the answer he expects. At the same time, her father discovers what they’ve been doing and forbids Hope from seeing the Kanagys anymore. As secrets from the past come to light, will these two strong-willed souls—and their families—learn that pride comes before every fall, but hope helps us rise again?

Conflict—The Unexpected Gift

Conflict—The Unexpected Gift
Author: Jack Hamilton
Publisher: iUniverse
Total Pages: 226
Release: 2017-09-14
Genre: Self-Help
ISBN: 1938908651

Conflict—The Unexpected Gift Conflict between people can be defined as a difference that causes disagreements. Authors Jack Hamilton and Elisabeth Seaman go to the root of what causes conflict and how to rebuild relationships. Interpersonal conflicts permeate our lives. Sometimes we believe that another person treated us unfairly, and that assumption causes us to become angry at the person. Such conflicts in relationships often are intensified because of old patterns of thinking and behavior that have gotten out of hand. Becoming aware of someone’s true intentions, and the many factors that caused them to behave the way they did, as well as awareness of our own reactions, starts us on the path to mutual understanding and reconciliation. Conflict—The Unexpected Gift: Making the Most of Disputes in Life and Work suggests practical ways to honestly address, talk through and benefit from resolving conflicts. Every chapter has real-life accounts of people’s unresolved issues and the creative ways they resolved them. The book stresses the importance of knowing yourself, clarifying and letting go of unfounded assumptions, apologizing to heal old hurts and moving forward by not only repairing relationships, but also often improving them. Hamilton and Seaman wrote this book to give you the tools to talk through and mend unresolved issues that may have surfaced in your personal relationships.

The Gift of Hard Things

The Gift of Hard Things
Author: Mark Yaconelli
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Total Pages: 154
Release: 2016-07-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0830899197

Society teaches us to have everything under control, and we tend to think that this can be true even of our spiritual lives. Master storyteller and spiritual director Mark Yaconelli offers a narrative journey through ways in which disappointments have turned into gifts. In these pages are a wealth of spiritual practices that will help us find grace in unexpected places.