The Hurting Parent: Help for Parents of Prodigal Sons and Daughters

I bought this book, had a different cover, when I was raising three teenagers. I will admit I had so much pain I couldn't read the whole book for dealing with the problems and pain. Now one of my children is now facing pain with one of hers. I am reading the book all of the way this time to help with this grandchild. I am also ordering a book for my adult child to try to ease some of her pain. I hate the "what goes around comes around" but it is usually true. I never wanted any of my children to have the same pain. This is a must have book for a hurting parent(s).

I did not order this book based on the review from the one person saying it was Barney theology, but later was given it by a friend. It has been the most helpful of books on this subject. My husband and I have poured over quite a few recently and we believe this book speaks to the heart of how to best reach out to your hurting, wayward adult child. On the back cover of the book, Ruth Bell Graham gives it a positive review and that means a lot to me. I am so grateful to God that even though I had dismissed ordering this book, that it was put in our hands. It has been very helpful to us in a difficult time.

I have never written a review before. I never felt the urge to do so or I just have been too lazy, but I felt for this book, I must write something! I have to say how much I owe the author! As a hurting parent, I found so much comfort, encouragement and practical advice from this book. It is also very well written and easy to read too. It will bring out your deep emotions. The tears, the pain, the shame, the frustration and the hope... They don't lecture you, nor did they pretend to give you a complete solution, but the numerous true stories in the book will make you laugh or make you cry because some of us will find ourselves in the book. I read it over and over again. I found strength to press on in my difficult journey of being a parent. Thank God for such a book!

This book was an answer to prayer. I actually found it at a garage sale. After reading it, I realized the many things that I had been doing incorrectly to resolve an on-going problem in my relationship with my adult son. I have started to put some of the principles outlined in this book into practice. I have not seen progress from my son, however, my mental state is much better and positive. I still have a long way to go but will continue to reread this book to reinforce the principles found there.

This book helped me to retain (or regain!) a level of rational thinking at a time when there was nothing rational in my personal life. All three of my beloved children were out of control and our family life was in chaos. One child was into drugs, one was into alcohol, and one was trying to cope with severe trauma. I was on a guilt trip that threatened to engulph me, and it seemed like I had slipped into a deep black pit with slippery walls. The entire world seemed black to me. One of the strongest helps I received was The Hurting Parent. The various topics seemed to address my pain - - even the topics that did not apply to my situation. Since then I have bought several copies of this book, and then loaned them out. They don't seem to come back, so the people I have given them to must consider them helpful in their lives, too. Thank you Margie Lewis & son!