It's Always Darkest Before the Fridge Door Opens: Finding Joy in the Cold Places of Life

Before I start talking about this book, let me say straight off that I normally don't read books like this. I'm not big on self-help or encouragement books, as more often then not, they only say stuff that I already know - just in different ways. Or not so different, depending on the book. I bought it at a Christian book store primarily because of the title - they say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but come on. Who doesn't? Bought on a whim, I fully expected to be disappointed and to resign myself to wasting money yet again on a book. That said, this book is actually much better than I expected. The authors don't claim to have any new or dramatic insights, but instead want to remind the reader that yes, laughter is the best medicine, and we should be able to laugh no matter what is going on in our lives. With chapters arranged around a central theme (a refrigerator, can you believe it?), the authors use stories, jokes, and clever word play to cause the reader to laugh, and then drive their point home. They approach life and it's situations - both good and bad - from a Biblical perspective. For instance, one particular chapter discusses the concept of "blessing your enemies." After humorous blessings such as "May your children be blessed with musical giftedness. On the drums, tuba, and bagpipes" and "May your neighbors on each side of your new house share your enthusiasm for Harleys. May they be in opposing gangs," the authors focus on the deeper issue: we should be gracious, forgive, and learn from our enemies. If you enjoy books like this, or like to laugh, or are just looking for something light-hearted with a moral to read, pick this book up. The writing it witty, down-to-earth, and true. -- Quotes taken from pgs. 58-59 of the book. -- Published 2006; Bethany House Publishers 186 Pages