A Good and Perfect Gift

A Good and Perfect Gift

by Amy Julia Becker

Publisher's description: 

Things don't always go as planned - especially when it comes to our children. When her first baby, Penny, is given a frightening diagnosis, Amy Julia's world comes crashing down. Could she continue to trust God's goodness even through what felt like personal tragedy? But challenging surprises often lead to unforeseen joy, and disappointments can turn into blessings. This wise and beautiful book is more than a courageous story of raising a child against the odds -- it is a journey through the unexpected ups and downs of life and the discoveries that come along the way. 

This was a beautiful story of faith during unsettling circumstances, and the hope and joy that God brings when we fully trust Him. As I read this book, I felt myself being drawn into Amy Julia's story. It was interesting to read about the friends and family who didn't always have the right words to say. I also liked hearing the perspective of someone in ministry who is going through trying circumstances. 

I would give this book a "4" and recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading real stories about people, and also to anyone who might have a child with special needs or knows someone who does.

About the author:

Amy Julia Becker is the author of A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny, named one of the Top Books of 2011 by Publisher's Weekly, and Penelope Ayers: A Memoir. A graduate of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary, she blogs regularly for Patheos at Thin Places. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, First Things, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Hartford Courant, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, The Huffington Post, and Parents.com. Amy Julia lives with her husband Peter and three children, Penny, William, and Marilee, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."