I’ve heard it said that you write the book you need to read. I’ve heard it said that the book that changes you the most is the one you create. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (like so many authors before me)—I wrote this for you, but I wrote it for me first.
I wrote it to answer the questions left by a life that had scraped me raw, down to the bones of my very faith—to reckon with the God who was still present in my deepest suffering (and was somehow through it all, still showing me he loved me.) I wrote it to understand the God who sees the sparrows fall, and still sometimes lets them. I wrote it to understand that love is still worth it, even when it hurts.
This world is full of ache—and yet, the miracle comes in putting words to it, and seeing in the eyes of another that you are not nearly as alone as you think.
These words of praise from my kind endorsers were the proof I needed that this book has in fact, done what I deeply desired for it to do.
(To see more of my early reviews/endorsements, check out my post on Instagram or simply read the editorial reviews on Amazon.)
This book is a kind hand on your shoulder. A friendly presence in the dark. A companion for the journey through these shadowlands, supplying words for the ache that you have experienced, but couldn’t quite name. And perhaps it is also a kind of evidence: a piece of proof that there is some kind of divine transmutation of all these aches, into something incredibly holy and beautiful.
"wherever you are on the journey—
I am the chaser of sparrows and
I am the Sparrow, and
I wrote this for you."
I hope you’ll join me. Preorders are now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Books-a-Million. Ebook preorders are *hopefully* coming soon, we are still working out the kinks. (Pray for that we’d get that figured out ASAP would you pretty please?)
The book releases February 20th, 2024, but we have a few more weeks of sharing poems as well over at my supplementary Substack “a journey with the Sparrow” if you want to check it out. (You can get a taste of what the work is like before you buy the whole thing!)
And in case you need a tiny bit more convincing—one of the most common comments I’m getting from readers who have been with me for a long time is that they didn’t realize they actually liked poetry. Unfortunately, in our current culture and school system, I think so many folks have a negative experience with poetry from a young age. Either it’s super abstract and not very accessible to the typical reader, or it’s handled in a way that puts a lot of pressure on “cracking the code” of what a poem means, which has turned so many readers off to poetry as a genre altogether. (You might consider yourself one of them, and that’s okay!)
But I do want to assure you, that these poems are not that. They do pack a punch, and they aren’t always direct—but the consistent feedback I’m getting from my early readers who perhaps don’t typically read poetry, is that they are pleasantly surprised by how much they are enjoying and connecting with the work. HUZZAH! Of course you can imagine that is absolute music to my writer’s ears.
So, all that to say, even if you think you don’t like poetry, you might like this. Check it out.
And one final thing Dear House of Rest readers—as I continue to pursue my writing work—both in what I write and what genres I use to convey those messages—I am constantly evolving, and in this season especially I’m seeking to integrate my different genres of work in ways that make sense.
That being said, you may notice some changes here in the coming months.
Firstly, after the launch of my poetry book, I’ll be converting my poetry Substack to a section of The House of Rest instead. All this means is that you will be receiving poetry updates and occasional poems from me right here instead of on a separate Substack or via a Crosspost. There is no need for you to change anything, unless that’s a huge turn off for you and you choose to unsubscribe altogether. This is going to be much more manageable for me, as I will then only have two Substacks to manage; “The House of Rest,” and my fiction Substack, “a Story that would Change Her.” This also means that you may be receiving a poem for one of your bi-monthly posts, instead of an essay.
Secondly, though Sabbath is still a primary topic I will be discussing here, I will also be pivoting towards a broader understanding of The House of Rest, which will include ways that naming the ache of our current experiences or the world around us helps us to lean into the rest that God longs to give us in body and soul—as well as ways that we can create a “House of Rest” for others in the midst of world in constant tumult. To me, this is the essence of being a Christ follower.
To that end, I have an exciting little gift for you.
Awhile back I created a little mini-cookbook resource entitled Comfort with Food: an easy guide to loving the hurting with nourishing meals. I had it up for sale on my Buy Me a Coffee page, but now I’m GIVING IT TO YOU FOR FREE, just for being a House of Rest reader.
**This is just for my House of Rest readers, and to that end, I am going to be adding a link to download it as part of the Welcome page for every new Subscriber, but to that end, please don’t share the download link anywhere.**
In this mini-cookbook, I supply you with practical wisdom and delicious (gluten and dairy free) recipes to help you serve the ones who are hurting in your life.
INCLUDES:
Detailed "How to Care" instructions
A liturgy for Comforting with Food
Helpful notes on dietary restrictions
Six delicious recipes (including my Best Ever Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies!)
& a special note from Grace, if you are in a season of wishing someone would cook for you.
Okay. That’s all from me.
Once again, thank you for being here Dear Readers— I’m so grateful I get to do this work alongside you.
Warmly,
Gracie
https://x.com/gkelleywrites/status/1506820983562424323?s=46&t=hF7T_ItDwrXl1YgJACoZQw I would love to re read this poem, please, but the link on X is dead.