“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.”
― C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed
Today, a short poem to commemorate another moment that brings the stark recognition of my daughter’s absense. There is no timetable for grief. That is what I am learning in the time following Katherine’s departure January 9, 2021.
Others march on into their brave new world’s blessings, but grieving the loss of a child is like having a deep wound, scabbed over that is torn open every day. The same blood, from the same body, but different… because this wound cannot heal. Not this side of ever after. C.S. Lewis put it this way, “How often — will it be for always? — how often will the vast emptiness astonish me like a complete novelty and make me say, “I never realized my loss till this moment”? The same leg is cut off time after time.”
Today I am sharing a look into a beautiful journaling- psalms combination leathersoft book, newly available from Thomas Nelson Bibles. This bookhas some features that make it both ideal for gift giving as well as for one’s own quiet times and Summer devotions.
I confess to be a Bible Loving Believer. Fortunately, we live in a country where we have access to Bibles and the freedom to enjoy them in our homes, churches and public places as we so desire. I love God’s word, and learning the depths of it, as well as sharing it as God leads. I also appreciate that I have options in the variety of Bibles available to me for studying, worship- and for gifting!
Today I am sharing a BIble I was offered (free) in return for a review. As a former Sunday School Teacher, and as one who enjoys sitting over a cup of coffee with another woman for Bible Study, I always have an eye out for Bibles, and supporting study materials. With so many options available it’s helpful to have a look inside to make a right choice for the situation or setting. Because we want to be in our Bibles, and about our Father’s business daily, it’s nice to have a Bible that fits for the season of life one is in. This is especially true if you mark up your Bibles. I really appreciate being able to have a fresh Bible to mark up and get messy with God, so to speak. Messy, meaning, using the Bible as a place to deposit notes, prayers, and marks freely. I think the freedom to mark up a Bible encourages better understanding of God and others…expressing oneself in relation to God’s word opens up new pathways of communication with God and opportunities for self-revelation. Understanding oneself in relation to God is key for personal growth, and learning what matters most to God, through the lens of scripture. Don’t we want that for our young people- especially as they struggle to against the stream of social media saturated culture we are all swimming in? The more tools we have to encourage an intimate relationship with God through wrestling with, and reflecting on scripture, the better chance we have of seeing fruit in the lives of those in our younger community.
Let’s get into this beautiful Navy Blue, Pink and Aqua floral cover Bible and what it has to offer for God’s girl besides the pretty cover. I have a video which you can watch on YouTube below where I review the features.
“The NIrV is an easy-to-read version for children, for adults who find the terms and concepts of the Bible difficult to understand, and for those to whom English is a second language. The vocabulary is usually limited to a third-grade reading level and is therefore easy to understand. The sentences are also broken down and kept at no more than 15 words a sentence.” Rev. Paul Swarup, PhD, one of the translators for the NIrV version, stated in an interview with Jonathan Petersen on the BibleGateway Blog. Trust me, as one who regularly writes run on sentences, that is a beautiful thing!
This Bible would be perfet for girls aged 6-10. The Bible itself offers the exclusive Zondervan NIrV Comfort Print typeface which truly is easy on the eyes. The pages – and I failed to mention this on the video, though I noticed it as I watched the video myself after posting- have some lighter lines alternatively, which make the option to draw easier. That’s a nice feature for the doodle lovers! The best of both worlds for encouraging writing, creative Bible journaling and scripture engagement.
Complete text of the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), written at a third-grade reading level for developing readers
Double-column format
Wide margins girls can use in three ways:
Lined side margins for taking notes
Blank side margins for drawing, coloring, and doodling
100 verses for tracing to help with print and cursive penmanship and Scripture memorization
Thick white paper for writing and doodling
Satin ribbon marker
Exclusive Zondervan NIrV Comfort Print® typeface
8.5-point print size
Please let me know any specific questions you have about this Bible, as I tend to enjoy a variety of Bibles, and am happy to answer your questions! I usually will use a Bible in my personal study time (even the kid’s Bibles) to get a feel for them prior to review, even if only briefly.
Thank you to Jonathan Petersen and Bible Gateway for the opportunity to review the NirV Journal the Word Bible for Girls. All opinions presented at and by Enthusiastically, Dawn are my own honest thoughts- nothing more, nothing less. I received this for free as a member of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid #BibleGatewayPartner
Joy Harjo, U.S. Poet Laureate & Academy of American Poets Chancellor
It’s National Poetry Month and I confess, I am thrilled about that overwhelmingly lovely diversion from everything otherwise happening in the world at this moment in time. I mean, what a way to absorb the beauty of Spring and to embrace hope and all the possibilities of this particular season, in spite of soaring gas prices, surging Covid cases globally, and a war befuddling every nation except the one instigating it.
Pause with me and look to words, to refresh, renew, reinvigerate the mind, soul and spirit. I am thankful for a month that celebrates the power of poetry. Poetry is, to me, humanity’s love language. It allows simple snapshots and glimpses into our hearts…in all the rawness, with all the weakness and sometimes surprising strength. In the ugly, the precious, the beautiful, the wiping the nose, holding back tears moments. Poetry takes reality and hands it back to us like an unexpected gift…all the facets of our lives, reflected, back reminding us of our connectedness. Oh, I believe in the power of poetry, and the power of words, to cause us all to see. To hear. To listen…to one another.
So let me tell you how I am celebrating National Poetry Month this month (and quite possibly every month hereafter forevermore)…
Enthusiastically, Dawn 