John Trent (1)Besprekingen

Nearly 30 years ago I read the first edition of The Language of Love and it introduced me to a new way of expressing myself -- which was very important to someone coming from a family background of dysfunctional communication mixed with many forms of abuse. I was so excited to hear that there would be an updated, revised edition, and it does not disappoint. Many examples of word pictures enable you to visualize the principle as you learn how to help people feel your words rather than just hearing them.


I received an Advance Reader's Copy from the publisher.

Book 1 unfolds the ancient concept of the blessing and how it gives children the very best start on their emotional well-being and adult success.
Book 2 describes the ways you can honour all your relationships so others feel valued and secure.

I finished A Place Called Blessing: Where Hurting Ends and Love Begins a few days ago and I've been thinking since then. Some books are like that. Sometimes, I finish a book and I can immediately sit down and write about it. Other times, I have to give it a day or two to sink in, or to think about what I want to say. Honestly, it's a good book. I just can't say unequivocally that I liked it. It made me cry too much. I don't like books that make me cry. I read to either escape or learn, not to be sad.

The book is based on a previous book by Trent,[b:The Blessing|205856|The Blessing|Gary Smalley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172677034s/205856.jpg|529970]. According to Trent, the blessing "involves looking for specific ways to move toward others and provide them with five essential elements:
Meaningful touch
A spoken message
Attaching high value
Picturing a special future
An active commitment"

Trent says we are called by Jesus to do this as his followers. Obviously, we need to care for others and take care of each other, but the verses noted only speak of God's blessing to his people and say nothing of these elements. I'm not saying these aren't Biblical principles; God does attach a high value to us (Matthew 10: 29-31), and we do have a special future, not just in Heaven, but here on Earth (John 10:10). I guess I'm saying the author should have used verses like these to demonstrate his point instead of only the ones he gave (Gen 12:2, 1 Peter 3:9).

The story itself is heartbreak after heartbreak, with some love and a little hope thrown in. As a small child, Josh lost his parents in a drunk-driving accident. (Not that they were doing much for him and his brothers anyway, but they were his parents.) Then a tragic mistake separates him from his brothers. So I cried for the first 30 pages of the book. Eventually, he grows up, and meets Mike at work. Mike and his mother, Anna, become Josh's new family and he finally experiences all the love, nurturing, and "blessing" he didn't get as a child. That part of the story is wonderful. It's not all sunshine and roses, and there are some rough patches, but Josh learns that he really is worthy of love and families aren't always related by blood.

Then I cried for the last 30 pages. I won't tell you more because it would spoil the story. But, really, it's only 159 pages and I cried through 60 of them. That's almost 40% of the book. That's too much "sad" for me. But if you ignore that, this really is a good book.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. All opinions are my own.

With inspiring real-life stories, the authors show how love is a decision that begins with honour, the foundation of all healthy relationships.

This book explores "emotional word pictures", a method that helps to bridge communication gaps.

Depending on our basic personality type, we all tend to be either too hard or too soft in our relationships with those we love the most. The Two Sides of Love will change that! Best-selling authors and family experts Gary Smalley and John Trent explain how to find a healthy balance between the protective, consistent “hardside” love and the tender, understanding “softside” love. By examining the four basic personality types, you'll learn how to best demonstrate both sides of love in all your relationships-with your spouse, children, friends . . . anyone-and experience wholehearted love

Focus on the Family provides parents with a resource to help their children (ages 0-12) develop a personal faith. The book provides an overview of children's spiritual capacity and understanding at different age levels. It also includes practical advice to help parents be the spiritual “trainers” of their children through engaging activities, exercises, and projects that can be completed individually or as a family.

- Overview of children's spiritual capacity and understanding at different ages
- Rationale for teaching specific spiritual principles and disciplines
- Equips parents to train children by providing engaging activities, exercises, and projects to complete individually or as a family
- Shows parents how to make a spiritual training plan

Minneapolis, MN

Given to Matthew Hayes - 05/11/2023

Whether we realize it or not, the value we attach to God, or children, and others greatly determines the success or failure of all our relationships. Indeed, nothing will do more to shape lives that learning to give and receive The Gift of Honor.

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A highly recommended book because it is so memorable and inspirational. It motivates you to consider family in a totally different way.

Truly a life changing book. Grasping the concepts within allows you to move mountains. Stubborn arguments that go no where become inspirational and motivational when one party paints word pictures that speak to the heart of the other. Marriages, friendships, parent-child and professional relations all benefit by word pictures. At the end of the book there a warning. The last chapter is, "The Dark Side of Emotional Word Pictures" But then after that is this "!101 Life-Tested Word Pictures" and following are notes with all sorts of scriptural references and then comes the 12 Session "Study Guide." An excellent book for caring people who want to do good in this world one person at a time. Not to be missed.

I found the idea of movement being part of the Hebrew words for life and death interesting. The death of a marriage is very well represented by the idea of the couple moving away from each other. So, if you are trying to breathe fresh life into something then you should remember this idea of life being the movement toward. Want to keep a relationship alive? Then reach out to that person.

Trent's theory is that if someone is just two degrees off course that given enough time and distance that they will miss their target by miles. Said another way, if we are not on the right bearing all the time then we might drift off course and to our ruin. He is technically right, but he misses his own target. The truth is that we have moving targets in life and we always need to be adjusting our present bearing to match the new course.
This book also pushes the concept that ALL people fall into 1 of 4 personality categories. Yes, another one of these self help books which places people into compartments so that we can all better understand ourselves and others. Presto, I'm a lion and you are an otter, so let's just leave things at that. Wrong.

So, you just read the book in this review. There is no need to buy it - go find something else better to do.½

Read this long ago and used it in a women's study group as our weekly text. Definitely filled with great insights, linked to the Biblical "blessings" in the Old/New Testament. A classic. Just saw they have republished an updated edition: I'm going to get it and read it again.

I absolutely loved this book for three reasons. First, my favorite part of this book was the illustrations. They top any other children’s book I have read because they are extremely whimsical, bold, colorful and full of life. The illustrations of the characters especially are outstanding because their facial expressions go along perfectly with the story, and are exaggerated in order to highlight their spirits. I love the main character, Norbert the elephant, because he is relatable to so many children who struggle with everyday problems and insecurities. I also love Norbert’s mother in the story because she is a great example of a loving, supportive, and comforting parent. Lastly, I enjoyed the author’s writing because it was engaging throughout the story. Several words are italicized for emphasis, and all of Norbert complaints about his problems to his mom are typical problems that any child can relate to at some point in their life. Furthermore, I like how no matter how great Norbert tries makes his peers look, his mom always responds with, “I’d choose you.” The big idea of this story is to give children confidence and comfort. This book is a great read for any struggling children who lack self-worth and who need compassion.

This is a very cute picture book that helps children and parents laugh their way through their fears with a delightful story that turns a closet filled with "monsters" into a child's own personal zoo.The little boy in the story talks about how scared he was to go to sleep because of the monsters in his closet, but to his surprise it was a duck! Along with animals like panda bears, horses, rabbits, kittens, and puppies! A sweet story that any children who are afraid of the dark should read!

Helping Kids Understand Their Personality

Charting Where You've Been and Where You're Going"

The value we attach to our children will determine the success of our relationship with them.