Monday, February 22, 2016

Choose JOY (book review + a giveaway)

If I could recommend one and only one book for you to read this year, it would be Choose JOY by Sara Frankl and Mary Carver. The end. That is the review, friends. Go get yourself a copy stat and let me know if your mind is not blown and your heart is not changed.

But joking aside, if you've been reading here for any length of time, especially since our loss in 2015, you know that the message of joy and hope and deep peace despite life's hardships is a message that is near and dear to my heart. I partnered with the women at (in)courage once and wrote about it, and I wear a cuff, almost daily, that displays this exact reminder.


But this book? Oh my goodness, friends. I found myself crying while simultaneously shouting "Yes! This is what it's about!" both in my head and out loud, over and over again while reading.


Choose JOY, Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts, is the story and life motto of Sara Frankl, who lived with chronic pain for almost two decades as a result of a rare autoimmune disease. Sara was so pain stricken that she was eventually confined to her condo in Iowa, unable to even open a window lest she struggle to breathe. But despite great loss, despite being unable to leave her home, despite mountains of restrictions, she never stopped living. I would even venture to say that Sara LIVED more than any of us able bodied humans have ever dreamed of living. Her ability to continually lift her eyes up and praise God and thank Him for His goodness? Remarkable. She trusted her Creator's plans and paths and while she never sugar coated her realities, she always erred on the side of trust. She had every right to grow in bitterness and anger and self pity, but she never did. Never battled a sense of entitlement that I can so easily find myself battling. Instead she put every ounce of faith and trust in God's sovereignty over her life and realized that while her circumstance painful (an understatement), it was not worthless. She showed up, amidst the pain, and said yes to her life.

As Sara's disease progressed, she turned to the internet to find community. She started a blog, Gitzen Girl, and wrote as frequently as the pain allowed. Her blog spread and so did her message of faith instead of fear, and joy instead of despair. Sara's blogging buddy turned real life friend, Mary Carver, partnered with Sara by compiling her blog writings and piecing them together in book form. Sara passed in 2011 at the young age of 38.


Sara no longer lives on earth, but her attitude and perspective will live on for generations. I'm sure of that. Thank you, Sara, for your legacy of faith. Your legacy of hope. Your legacy of JOY.


Do you see how many pages I bookmarked with sticky notes? It's hard to tell but let me assure you, it's a lot. This book is jam-packed with inspiration, words you will want to paint on your walls or crochet on your pillows.


A few of my favorite quote's from the book. . .

  • "But the reason I am happy is that I choose to look at my blessings more than my burdens."
  • "I'm okay with not knowing why this is happening to me because I know he knows why. It's not about me; its about what He can do with me. My job is simply to pay attention and enjoy the rainbows."
  • "I think our expectations of what we want life to be often overshadow the good things that are already in front of us - and that's when we miss the silver lining. All God asks of us is to live the best life we can with what we are given. In other words, we are all given different blessings and different crosses to bear, which means we can only take care of what's in front of us in that moment and do the best we can."
  • "I can't presume my dreams would have turned out better than His plans just because they seem easier in my mind. . . if I'm grading myself on a curve or normalcy, then of course I feel shortchanged. But being normal is not the goal. The goal is to live the best life I can with what I have been given. . . I still would trade it for the normal one I always thought I would have, because this is the one He meant for me to live." 
  • "This is how I have learned to praise. Even in my weakest places, even in my hardest moments, even in the depths of pain and sickness, I thank Him for what I know for sure is true - beyond the distraction of the hard, within the hard. I praise Him for Him.

Because I believe so deeply in this message, I purchased a copy of Choose JOY to giveaway to a blog reader (I simply can't part with my copy, it's that good!). Comment on this post to enter and tell me how you are choosing JOY today! Giveaway ends at 5:00pm Friday, February the 26th (CST) and winner will be announced on the blog on Monday, February the 29th. 

How will you choose joy today?

(I was given a free copy of this book by Faith Words in exchange for an honest review on my blog.

16 comments

  1. Hey. I am interested in this book but have a question for you... Being someone who has not experienced significant loss of a loved one or battled a terminal/debilitating disease, but has had "normal" life struggles would you recommend this book to that person (aka me:))? In reading your review and other information online about it, it looks great but would you think it will be relatable for someone described above and why/how? Not trying to pick, just looking for more information.

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    1. Sara, I should have clarified this in my review but YES the book holds so much wisdom regardless of the specifics of our circumstances. Sara's thought patterns and way of seeing the good can be applied to even the smallest of "normal" life struggles. I think it is far too easy for any of us, specific circumstances aside, to get bogged down with certain life expectations, areas of control, or just a negative mindset from the every day routines of life. Sara's writings hold truth that I find applicable to all situations. Because all of us can use a fresh new way of thinking regardless of how "easy" or "hard" our lives might be. Relatable no doubt. :)

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  2. My toddler is acting totally crazy this morning but I am choosing to be joyful that I get to spend the morning with her anyway, because one day she will be a grumpy teenager who wants nothing to do with me and for now she only wants me :) thanks for hosting this giveaway!

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  3. Sounds like a game-changer of a book! I am at my wit's end with potty training and our bathroom remodel but I am choosing JOY because I have two healthy children that are developmentally capable of being potty trained at all AND that we have the resources to upgrade from our sea shell sink bathroom :)

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  4. I've been looking for a good book. You know, to read in all of my abundant free time that I have with a 3.5-year-old and a 3-month-old. I'm choosing joy in spite of a really rough week. I went back to work last week after a 12-week maternity leave, and being away from my little guy is killing me! But I am beyond thankful for a happy, healthy, sweet little snuggly guy; for the 12 weeks I was blessed to spend exclusively with him at home; and for a job to return to, even though I'd rather be anywhere else right now.

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    1. I am so sorry . . . I can only imagine what a hard transition this would be. I am praying for your peace and am proud of you for your outlook!!

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  5. Yes this. The past month life has felt like learning to surf, the moment we stand and try to balance another wave knocks us off the board leaving us gasping for breath. And yet in the midst of it all I hope still and choose gratitude.

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    1. I'm so sorry it has been a rough few weeks. Proud of you for choosing hope and joy even on the hardest days!

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  6. I was going to comment that I want the book but after reading other people's comments, I think they deserve the book! :) The person who is potty training took the words right out of my mouth. Your blog always reminds me to be grateful for every stage of my children's development, even the ones that might annoy me, because it's a gift to be able to experience stages (I hope that doesn't sound at all offensive...I just really appreciate your perspective on appreciating Clara and also appreciating Camille and it reminds me to just love my kids for who they are). Thanks for sharing the quotes!

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    1. Not offensive at all. I totally understand what you are saying/meaning. :) While it IS a gift to be able to experience certain developmental stages with our kids, that doesn't mean it's not plain hard many days. So even though you don't have a special needs kiddo, give yourself permission to experience the emotions that come with typical parenting . . . and find the joy underneath it all. You always do that so well, Sarah!! Always inspired by YOU!

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  7. I always appreciate your posts as well, they are uplifting, encouraging and challenging! Today, I am choosing JOY after a difficult afternoon and evening with my oldest who is struggling with behavioral issues, and learning to listen and obey and not do what she always believe is best--at 5! It's tough and today was exhausting. At one point, I just commanded out loud that Jesus take control and calm her down...and He did. I just sat there as she crawled up into my lap and cried tears of frustration. I so thankful for my children and I just held on to my big girl so tightly and trust that it was in that moment of closeness, that the Lord reminded me that THIS is what life is about. Living in the moment and cherishing my daughter, because one day after arguments, she won't want to run to my lap and cry our of frustration. I too, appreciate all the other comments!

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    1. Tough and exhausting is right!! Proud of you for choosing joy on a day when you had every right to throw a pity party. Love your perspective!

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  8. Thanks for the clarification above and the encouragement. I've been unsure if I wanted to post or not but you can't beat out darkness without shining light.
    I am working choosing joy as a new stay at home mom. I say working on because a lot of days I struggle to see this as kingdom work (short term view, I know), or that God is with me through out the day. I knew this had the potential to be a lonely season of life, I just didn't think it would be this lonely this often for me. So I am working on choosing joy each day rather than being gloomy, it's hard to make that conscious choice for me but it has to be made each day or I default into sadness.

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    1. The transition to stay at home mom is a hard one!! Praying for you!! You're so right. . . you cannot beat the darkness without shining the light and His truth!

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  9. I would love this! Always love this blog Britt! I am choosing JOY today because my hubby was just told he will be in a cast for 12 weeks. He can't walk or help with anything around the house, and MOST importantly can't play with his boys who NEED daddy time! 😬

    Choosing to see this as a phase, and be grateful that it isn't worse than it is!!

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    1. So sorry for his injury!! 12 weeks is a long time! But yes - I'm thankful that it was not worse and you're right - it's just a phase. :)

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