I loved it! Melinda reads it so wonderfully. The story was particularly meaningful for me. I live with a Sam and a Macrina and this has opened up some helpful conversations. I will definitely be purchasing the other books in the series.

In his new book, “Healing Your Wounded Soul: Growing from Pain to Peace,” Fr. Joshua Makoul masterfully blends Eastern Orthodox Christianity’s ancient ascetical wisdom with complimentary insights from modern psychotherapy to offer hope to those emotionally – and spiritually -- crippled by painful memories of abuse, rejection and shame.
It is a mission for which Makoul, dean of the St. George Cathedral in Pittsburgh and veteran certified counselor with academic degrees in Psychology, is well-qualified. His straightforward, crisp, and thought-provoking writing style builds a solid foundation of understanding such therapeutic concepts such as “relationship trauma,” “transference” of past pain to present experiences, and “projection” of our own faults onto others.
None of those psychological frameworks are left to stand alone, however. Fr. Makoul consistently illuminates them with the light of faith. Introspection, for example – so stressed by secular therapists as key to unearthing the origins of debilitating behaviors – has been key to the Eastern Orthodox path to theosis (the eternal goal of the faithful “to become by grace what God is by nature,” as Fr. Makoul explains).
This holy introspection, a core teaching of the Desert Fathers’ “science of the soul,” is the key to spiritual—and arguably emotional – healing echoed in the teachings of the saints for millennia. As St. Isaac of Syria – one of numerous Desert Fathers mined by Fr. Makoul – put it, “Enter eagerly into the treasure house that is within you, and you will see things that are in heaven – for there is but one single entry to them both. The ladder that leads to the Kingdom is hidden within your soul.”
What Fr. Makoul’s book is not, is a self-help tome with specific quick fixes for those memories and errant coping habits that may cripple the reader’s present. Rather, it helps the reader acquire clearer perspective and understanding of self-destructive and self-defeating behaviors – and with those insights, to be ready for true healing.
Start with a visit to your parish priest and/or spiritual father; he may, in addition to his grounding in the Faith, have also been trained in counseling – or be able to refer you to a network of “faith-friendly” therapists.
For anyone struggling with painful memories, and the negative behaviors spawned by them that can damage present relationships with God and others – or those who have loved ones suffering such emotional injuries and their aftermath – I strongly recommend “Healing Your Wounded Soul: Growing from Pain to Peace.”

Wonderful. So simple, clear, and informative.

An intriguing and encouraging read. It also gave me a lot to ponder over. It was wonderful to see so many people walking out their faith in the Orthodox tradition. I was hoping some of the ascetics would be from the 21st century, but I suppose such individuals are still striving towards their goal of obtaining the crown, and we will not hear of them for some time yet.

As beautiful and creative as each of the illustrations are, the prayers themselves are what touch my heart and validate my hopes for my children. This book certainly appears to be intended for mothers with young children, but as an older mom, I see it filled with prayers I want to pray daily for my adult and "almost adult" children. Whether the book is in front of me or not, Gilbert's simple and vibrant illustrations are stamped in my memory as visual reminders to pray for my children. Yes, "A Mother's Prayer" is a precious gift for young mothers, yet it could also be treasured by older moms, fathers, and grandparents who are called to pray for their children and grandchildren.

All is Well proves to be a brief, uncomplicated read that explores how we can assert that "all is well" despite living in a troubled and broken world. Rossi’s tone and style made for very easy listening. His language is clear and uncomplicated. The author bolsters his work with scripture and conversational anecdotes from his own life and those who have written to him. The work is short, but it reminds us of the unshakable truth that God is always in control, even when our lives seem very out of control – what a paradox to embrace! Although I probably will not revisit this read in the years to come, this work has inspired me to revisit the beloved works of Father Thomas Hopko and Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, both of which Rossi discusses in All is Well. Rossi closes the work with a very sincere and touching tribute to Father Hobko. It is for this reason I believe All is Well would make a great companion read or study when paired with The Name of Jesus (or any Hopko book) and Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives.

This is a very well-written and well-structured book. It is an easy read, but, much more than that, it is (or can be) and extremely useful guide for both cradle Orthodox and converts.
If your spiritual life is on a downward spiral, if you've been struggling with personal vices, or just feel unable to maintain a life focused on Christ, this is the book for you. I wouldn't categorize it as a self-help book precisely because all the chapters come back to this truth: one cannot do ANYTHING without God. Each chapter ends with a prayer, perhaps as a reminder that prayer is one of the main tenets of an Orthodox lifestyle. In addition to the prayers, there are also sets of questions that are meant to trigger self-reflection on both positive and negative aspects of one's life. The readers can find practical tips for dealing with many situations in our day-to-day lives. The authors draw from their own life experiences and struggles with keeping the faith alive in their homes and in their hearts. As one delves into the book, their comprehensive research and their intellects are evident, and yet this still managed to maintain a friendly tone throughout the book. One thing that I have seen emphasized throughout the book is the fact that this renewal is an ongoing process that will take pains, increasing self-knowledge and self-reflection, along with humility to perfect.
This is the perfect book for those seeking a deeper relationship with God amidst all the hustle and bustle of the world.

Gorgeous illustrations and beautiful prayers from the heart of a mother. As a mom I have the desire to pray without ceasing for my daughter. So when my daughter goes down for a nap I take the time to lift her up in prayer with this lovely book. I always feel so at peace when I’m finished. This book would be a wonderful baby shower gift!

I just love this book! It would be an excellent gift for a new mother. The illustrations were done in collage, which is so beautiful and something I didn't expect. My children also enjoyed studying the pictures. One of my favorite saints is St Patrick. The words are based on his breastplate prayer. This is a good book for nighttime snuggles before bed. It helps our children know our desire to have their hearts and minds filled with Christ and how much they are loved.

The Beloved Virgin and Child Christmas cards are heavenly. They express the true meaning of Christmas.

Still reading this book. I feel transported to Mt. Athos!

These cards are beautiful! I know they will be a gift to whomever I send them.

I learned a lot about the three tools of the Orthodox faith. Very practical. I'm really glad I read this book.

Beautiful Bible. High quality. We are giving this to our daughter as an 18th birthday present. I know she will cherish it for a lifetime!

This book was such an important journey for our family. We read it aloud together as we were discovering Orthodoxy. We saw such an example of love and truth and piety in St. Paisios. You know something is right when your 10 year old expresses a wish for a prayer rope after your reading together. Seeing the author share honestly his lostness and darkened mind was very clarifying and we were all cheering for as he made his walk to Christ. This book also brought back to me the reality and importance of realizing that we walk in a spiritual battlefield. The demons are real and they are at work today, to ignore this and pretend that we have "surpassed that time in history" is at the very best stupidity.

Megan Gilbert’s beautiful new book is cleverly disguised as a children's picture book but full of the powerful potential to quiet our mama hearts and bring us to pray for our children. Within the pages and winsome illustrations are depictions of the day-to-day (but fleeting!) experiences of being a mother, joined with prayers that are whisperings of hopes for our children, articulations of mothers who have gone before us, the call to trust God with those whom we find most precious, and paths of prayer to walk along during the various seasons of motherhood.

In my home, this lovely book will likely be among the joyful tangle of books that never quite make it back to the bookshelf, as I pick it up day after day, moving it from the prayer corner to the couch to the table to the bedside, talking through the simple pictures with my kids, praying through the solemn words in my heart.

Truth be told, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. What I was expecting was an interesting story about a boy, some monks, a saint, and some history. What I experienced was a gripping story that engaged me on various levels; the story has history, adventure, themes of faith, trauma, healing, and forgiveness. The voices of the characters are believable in their interactions with one another, the story feels authentic to time and place, the pace is just about perfect, and the writing is spot-on for the age-range of the target audience. While the book shows the Orthodox faith being lived, it does so without feeling didactic or like the author is speaking down to the reader, even if the reader is an adult. For that, I am so grateful. There are descriptions of war, battle, injury, and death, but written in such a way that I would still feel comfortable reading the story as a family read-aloud with my kids ages 4-10. I am excited for my kids to read this book, and I have no doubt that they will enjoy the story and grow in faith, perhaps without even knowing it, just as I have.

Upon first reading “A Mother’s Prayer”, I was immediately swept into each beautifully illustrated drawing as if I had been there before. Either as a mother myself or as a child; the drawings depict fond memories of the past and remind me of the essence of what is important. God has entrusted us with our children here on earth and the prayers within these pages are akin to gentle reminders from Christ himself on how we should parent our children. What a lifelong prayer companion this book is to read and reread all throughout each stage of motherhood.

"A Mother's Prayer" is a timeless book about motherhood and her beloved child(ren). Page after page the array of illustrations masterfully compliment each loving prayer that are perfectly woven from selections taken within "The Breastplate of St Patrick" (one of my favorite pieces of writing). This is a read-aloud for any hour of the day or simply enjoy one page once a day; let it permeate your soul. My children are all grown now but I'll tuck this keepsake treasure away for when my children have their own, God-willing; will definitely be gifting this gem for the perfect gift at birth, birthdays, baptisms, or just-because.

This book speaks to both mothers and their children. As mothers read along with their children, a child will learn that their Mommy prays to God and that He listens. The prayers are simple and short and easy to read and understand.. The illustrations are beautiful and engaging and draws the reader into the emotions and feelings of the prayers. A copy of this book should be in every Orthodox home and would make a wonderful gift for a new mother or even a godmother to pray for their godchildren!