Memoir of the mother of a boy stoned to death in the Judean desert.

When Jan Richardson unexpectedly lost her husband and creative partner, the singer/songwriter Garrison Doles, she did what she had long known how to do: she wrote blessings. These were no sugar-coated blessings. They minimized none of the pain and bewilderment that came in the wake of a wrenching death. With these blessings, Jan entered, instead, into the depths of the shock, anger, and sorrow. From those depths, she has brought forth words that, with heartbreaking honesty, offer surprising comfort and stunning grace. Those who know loss will find kinship among these pages. In these blessings that move through the anguish of rending into the unexpected shelters of solace and hope, there shimmers a light that helps us see we do not walk alone. From her own path of grief, Jan offers a luminous, unforgettable gift that invites us to know the tenacity of hope and to recognize the presence of love that, as she writes, is "sorrow's most lasting cure."

God allows brokenness. We learned that God is good and gracious but we live in a broken world. This story deals with a broken home, a broken body and a broken heart. Jesus the Man of Sorrows knew the greatest suffering and loss. Out of all our trials our knowledge and love of God grew deeper. He brought healing and blessing. He never forsakes us but is in fact “near to the brokenhearted.” His grace is amazing and sufficient. We learned we had to be steadfast in our faith through it all. Faith means being faithful in all of our trials because God is in control and has a sovereign plan for each of us. Suffering here is temporary but heaven is forever glorious. There is hope, healing and blessing for the broken.

Koby Mandell was just thirteen-years-old on May 8th 2001, when he and his friend cut school to go hiking. Their bodies were found the next day. The boys had been brutally stoned to death in a cave in the heart of the Judean desert. The extreme cruelty of this act of terror shocked the world. How does a family cope with the loss of a child through such horror? Koby's mother Sherri has penned this absorbing, deeply painful and yet strangely beautiful account of her loss, sharing her thoughts and emotions as she moves through the first stages of mourning. Struggling to find a way to carry on, she embarks on a journey of discovery and growing faith as she endeavors to understand her pain in the context of 3,000 years of Jewish history and tradition. The Blessing of a Broken Heart is at once heartbreaking and life-affirming, shot through with immense pain and yet also with immense beauty and courage. Book jacket.

"Prayers for the Broken-Hearted" was born out of Debbie Kay's ministry, Hope For The Broken Hearted. As someone who knows what it's like to have a broken heart, she knows how to pray for others that are hurting. With a following of millions per week through social media, her daily prayers, accompanied by beautiful scenic pictures of nature, have become a much requested source of strength and encouragement for hurting hearts around the world. Her prayers put words to the cries of a broken heart. For anyone that is hurting, regardless of the source of the pain, these prayers will draw the reader into a closer relationship with God. He is the source of our hope and The One who restores our broken hearts. "Prayers for the Broken-Hearted" is a refreshing, authentic, synergistic offering to any person longing for companionship and comfort. The pictures of nature are visual reminders of how great our Creator is; the words are simple, deep, and full of need as well as profound peace and promises of comfort and hope. - Colleen Swindoll Thompson, Insight For Living, Special Needs Ministry

Pull away from the things that pull you down and find lasting encouragement for today. The women at Proverbs 31 Ministries offer 100 devotions of wit, wisdom, and encouragement for women. For twenty years the P31 team has equipped and encouraged nearly a million women to live in the power of God’s truths that apply to their everyday life. Written by women from every walk of life, you will find inspiration to live authentically and fully grounded in the Word of God. The P31 Team shares from the realities of everyday life including highs and lows, humorous stories and tender moments. You will be drawn toward the truths God offers and enabled to rise above and become all God created you to be.