The Gift of Goodbye: A Story of Agape Love

Beautifully describes the process I felt also losing my mother. I could not put this book down as I felt like I was reading my own story. I was captivated by her personal experiences and her ability to express her heartfelt emotions that truly take place during the passage of losing a mother, while still having to handle and juggle the responsibilities of your own life. There were so many times while reading this book I felt like I wanted to tell the author how much I related to her experiences. I can’t tell you how alone I felt when I was going through this in my own journey not being able to express all the cherished or tough moments; yet it seems like Munn has put it into words. Just reading this book is a gift to me, and it is an extension of the healing process. I now have a better appreciation for agape love.

A very well-written book that takes the reader into some very personal and tragic family situations. Yet, as heart-breaking as Rebecca's divorce and the passing of her mother are, the reader comes through it all feeling hopeful. This is a highly recommended book.

This memoir of the author’s journey of pain and love during her mother’s illness and death is a wonderful example of how growth and insight can emerge from life’s challenges. It is also a wonderful story of mother daughter love. I’d recommend this book to anyone facing the illness or loss of a loved one or any big life challenge for that matter. Thank you to the author for opening her heart and life so that others might learn.

Rebecca's new book is heartwarming and real. She tells the story of a snippet of her adult life and its ups and downs with transparency and honesty. It is a book that everyone can relate to as we navigate the journey of raising children and taking care of ailing or aging parents. It is a great read. One not to miss.

A read that resonated deeply. Provides an emotional perspective of the author as she prepares to lose her mother but also illuminates how empathy for the dying is so critical to being prepared for such an impacting loss.

The Gift of Goodbye is a beautiful read. It rings true to the emotions you feel while your Mother battles cancer. Rebecca’s story is told with so much love. Couldn’t put it down

A poignant story that hits close to the heart. The Author lovingly takes up through her journey without hiding from the pain. Well worth the read.

On July 18, 2017, Rebecca Whitehead Munn's book, The Gift of Goodbye, was released by She Writes Press.  Being a blogger with BookSparks, I was fortunate enough to be included in the book tour for this 280-page debut memoir that shares Ms. Munn's self-discovery, having learned of her mother's cancer diagnosis.The entire book takes place over the span of a three-year period.  Author, Rebecca Whitehead Munn shares her story of struggling through the process of her divorce when her mother was diagnosed with her terminal illness - cancer - right in the middle of it.I think everyone can relate to this story, as we have all experienced some sort of grief in our lives.  This is Ms. Munn's story of finding herself or what she calls a "heart-opening journey" and she shares her shares the truest of conversations between she and her mother as they walk their journeys together.While Ms. Munn doesn't divulge much about her childhood or the reasoning behind her failed marriage, she does dive right into how she dealt with her mom's situation. As the mother/daughter relationship deepens, Ms. Munn finds the gift of being able to share with her mother from her heart. Readers walk through Ms. Munn's life, including her mom's remission, and then only to realize it was a temporary remission. I loved how Ms. Munn shares her walk as she transforms from a life full of fear to finally being able to trust God and her faith in Him knowing that He is greater than anything she could understand. She shares how her difficult experiences of divorce and her mother's illness leads her to her own self-discovery. She also encourages readers to change their thinking so they can also discover their true selves.Her symbol of a purple butterfly was really cool too - it showed the path of a butterfly being similar to Ms. Munn's life journey - transforming from a caterpillar transitioning from its cocoon and emerging into flight in its path of freedom as a butterfly.As a Christian, I truly appreciated Ms. Munn’s mentioning of a higher power and I felt that it brave of her to be honest about how she felt her mother's soul to say, “I wonder if I am worthy of receiving God".At the end, Ms. Munn shares the awesome love between a mother and daughter, and it shares with readers the growth of love in her heart as she moved though the process of saying goodbye to her mother.  The Gift of Goodbye is a very powerful memoir that truly tugs at the heart, while keeping readers captivated from cover to cover.I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSparks in exchange for this post. I was not required to post a positive review, but I chose to do so because I enjoyed the book!  Thanks so much!