Book Review - Just Show Up; The Dance of Walking Through Suffering Together

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Kara Tippetts's story was not a story of disease, although she lost her battle with terminal cancer.

It was not a story of saying goodbye, although she was intentional in her time with her husband and four children. Kara's story was one of seeing God in the hard and in the good. It was one of finding grace in the everyday. And it was one of knowing "God with us" through fierce and beautiful friendship.

In Just Show Up, Kara and her close friend, Jill Lynn Buteyn, write about what friendship looks like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry, and even cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

The late Kara Tippetts was the author of "The Hardest Peace" and blogged faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com. Cancer was only a part of Kara's story. Her real fight was to truly live while facing a crushing reality. Since her death in March 2015, her husband, Jason, is parenting their four children and leading the church they founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Read Kara's blog.

Jill Lynn Buteyn is the author of "Falling for Texas," an inspirational novel, and a recipient of the ACFW Genesis Award for her fiction work. She has a bachelor's degree in communications from Bethel University. Jill lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children.

Connect with Jill: website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram\

MY REVIEW:

I read Kara Tippetts blog while she was going through her ordeal with breast cancer. I felt like she was a friend and cried many tears when she passed away. She touched my heart so much and I was so happy to see that she finished the book she talked about with her friend, Jill. This book is amazing.  It's all about showing up in people's lives. Showing up when they are suffering or going through a situation that is difficult. 

Both Kara and Jill write the book from different points of view. Kara from the sufferer and Jill from the friend's view. It's so insightful to see Kara's situation from both sides. I really liked that Kara was so open about what she needed. It helps to know how we can show up in someone's life that is going through a hard situation.  

Jill shares writings that she wrote, but never submitted, to Kara's blog. They are raw and heartfelt. It was so hard for Kara's friends to know what to do at times but Kara was the type to share openly about what she needed. That's not always easy for some of us. Jill shares that when her baby was colicky, she ended up hibernating. She is an introvert (I can relate) and she didn't  know exactly how to reach out to let others know she was hurting and alone.

That's what is so great about this book. It gives us ideas and tools to know how to show up for people. So many times we think if we say, "Let me know if you need anything." that it's enough but it's not. People don't always want to burden us so they won't ask for help when they need it. We have to show up in their lives - be more specific in offering to do things. 

They also share that it's important to show up as time goes on. When people have a long term illness or pain situation, their ordeal doesn't end quickly. However, people can forget about them as time goes on. They are left alone and desolate. This book helps us to show up in people's life when they have long term illnesses, too. 

I love this book. I could relate so much to much of this book and I love that I know now how to reach out to my my friends when they need me. I can show up and be there for them and I know how to do it. I think everyone should read this book. I especially think that those in ministry should read it as it would help them to know how to help others who are going through painful situations. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group

Blessings - Julie