A Perfect Word for Every Occasion by Liz Duckworth

Have you ever sat down to write someone a note or an email and stared at the blank page for a while struggling to find the right words?  That happens to me.  Whether it's a note of congratulations, or encouragement, or sympathy, it can be hard to find something meaningful to say.  There can also be that fear of saying the wrong thing that could be taken in a way other than you had intended.  That's where this unique resource comes in!  Words for the grieving and the sick.  Words of thanks and congratulations.  Words for birthdays and weddings.  Words to ask for forgiveness or encourage others. Divided into chapters that touch on nearly every occasion - this book is designed to spark some ideas and help you express your feelings.

Each chapter is broken down into sections.  I will use the chapter on Grieving to illustrate.  After the author shares a few thoughts, she shares Prompts to Help You Begin.  For example, "What does the person you are writing mean to you?  Thinking about the person who has died, what were some outstanding qualities he or she brought to life?  What wishes do you have for the person to whom you are writing?"  Then comes Words to Make Your Own. The suggestions found are not meant to be a substitute for us searching for our own words, but to be adapted to the situation at hand.  There are suggestions of what to say for the loss of a spouse, a child, a parent, a friend, a colleague, and even a pet!  This chapter even includes ideas for what to say in a receiving line.  Then comes Aunt Me-me's Guide to What Not to Say.  Sometimes we mean well, but words can come out that are insensitive.  This section is aimed at helping us to avoid those mistakes.  And finally there are Quotes Worth Sharing and Scripture Passages that can inspire our writing or be included in the note.

This book is not one to be read cover to cover....but it's a great resource!  No more staring at blank note cards for me.  I'm sure this book will get a lot of use over the years...thanks Liz!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.