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Good Night, I Love You: A Widow's Awakening from Pain to Purpose
In the wake of her husband's sudden and unexpected death, Jene Barranco writes a stunning book of brutal honesty about overwhelming grief, grappling with being a single mother to three grieving teenagers, and how she overcame the deafening silence she felt at the center of her relationship with God. GOOD NIGHT, I LOVE YOU explores with raw and honest prose the author's journey as a widow and what she has learned about grief, marriage, parenting, faith, living life with purpose, and utter dependence on God. Here is a book that will speak to anyone who has ever loved a husband or wife or child.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published September 19, 2017
2 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Jene Ray Barranco
1 book15 followersJene' Ray Barranco is a motivational speaker to Christian and secular groups, educational institutions, and women's conferences.. In the wake of her husband's sudden and unexpected death, Jene wrote GOODNIGHT, I LOVE YOU, a memoir that addresses the overwhelming grief of loss while grappling with being a single mother to three grieving teenagers, and how she overcame the deafening silence she felt at the center of her relationship with God. She blogs at www.eyesstr8ahead.blogspot.com. She is the mother of three children and resides in Jackson, Mississippi.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 21, 2017
She was awakened by the dogs barking. Police officers were at the door. They were there to report a fatality. Her husband of over twenty years had been killed in an automobile accident. With a masterful use of language, Barranco tells of her journey through grief.
This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to understand how one woman made it through the tragic loss of her husband into a life on a new dimension. Barranco found healing in writing. She tells of friends who helped her through the first weeks, grief washing over her at unexpected times, the numbness, the silence with and from God, the paper work, having to make decisions because life goes on.
I really appreciated Barranco's open and honest writing. The book is a good exploration of how people handle grief and make the journey through it. Each of her children handled the grief in their own way, an enlightening look at how grief is handled in a variety of ways.
The strength of this book is Barranco's writing style. It is beautiful. I savored many of her sentences, letting their impact flow over me.
I recommend this book. It is evidence of God's strength supporting Barranco on her journey through grief. She ran toward God, not away from Him. She experienced His grace daily. Her hope did not die. Hers is an encouraging account of doing the hard things with God by her side. It is not a “how to” book of going through grief but her own personal journey.
Food for thought: “God is the great Creator of life. I am made in His image. He's showing me how to create life and beauty in this broken, fallen world.” (190)
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to understand how one woman made it through the tragic loss of her husband into a life on a new dimension. Barranco found healing in writing. She tells of friends who helped her through the first weeks, grief washing over her at unexpected times, the numbness, the silence with and from God, the paper work, having to make decisions because life goes on.
I really appreciated Barranco's open and honest writing. The book is a good exploration of how people handle grief and make the journey through it. Each of her children handled the grief in their own way, an enlightening look at how grief is handled in a variety of ways.
The strength of this book is Barranco's writing style. It is beautiful. I savored many of her sentences, letting their impact flow over me.
I recommend this book. It is evidence of God's strength supporting Barranco on her journey through grief. She ran toward God, not away from Him. She experienced His grace daily. Her hope did not die. Hers is an encouraging account of doing the hard things with God by her side. It is not a “how to” book of going through grief but her own personal journey.
Food for thought: “God is the great Creator of life. I am made in His image. He's showing me how to create life and beauty in this broken, fallen world.” (190)
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
December 18, 2017
Jene Ray Barranco prayed the verse from Psalm 119:105 "Your word if a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." for a number of years. Her life was one day at time knowing that she was taking a step each day and God was lighting her path as she grieved the loss of her husband who unexpectantly died in a car accident. In Good Night, I Love You, she writes about her progressing of grief and how God turned pain into a new path.
One thing that is very evident in this book, is Barranco's strong faith in God and that is what pulled her out of the pit of grief. When things got difficult, she turned right to God. I love that Jene shared many journal entries, which helps the reader to feel as though they are walking the journey with Barranco. This book is an encouragement if you walking through a season of grief. She doesn't sugar coat her pain. This is such a wonderful book to encourage women or anyone who has been through the loss of someone. I give this book 4/5 stars.
One thing that is very evident in this book, is Barranco's strong faith in God and that is what pulled her out of the pit of grief. When things got difficult, she turned right to God. I love that Jene shared many journal entries, which helps the reader to feel as though they are walking the journey with Barranco. This book is an encouragement if you walking through a season of grief. She doesn't sugar coat her pain. This is such a wonderful book to encourage women or anyone who has been through the loss of someone. I give this book 4/5 stars.
November 12, 2017
I finished your book yesterday at work... less than 24 hour after I downloaded it. I will read it again when the hard copy arrives. I need to pause and learn from each page. A poem has been stuck in my mind since reading your book.. E.E. Cummings "I Carry Your Heart". It is so Jene' and Michael.... And it is Jene' now. Thank you for sharing your story! Thank you for always inspiring and motivating everyone to do better! ❤️
November 20, 2018
If you’re grieving a loss or want to understand what it can feel like for someone you love who’s grieving, this is a great book. Jene is able to experience the depth of grief while also observing and recording her experience. She gives words to so many of the aspects of grief that are hard to nail down verbally but easy to identify with if you’re grieving. Fantastic book.
November 13, 2017
I finished your book yesterday at work... less than 24 hour after I downloaded it. I will read it again when the hard copy arrives. I need to pause and learn from each page. A poem has been stuck in my mind since reading your book.. E.E. Cummings "I Carry Your Heart". It is so Jene' and Michael.... And it is Jene' now. Thank you for sharing your story! Thank you for always inspiring and motivating everyone to do better! ❤️
February 12, 2018
Won this book on Goodreads. This book is a Christian book about how we all greive differently, and let God guide your way. Was very well written. I recommend this book to my family and friends.
July 22, 2020
Good read, lots of helpful information.
September 12, 2017
Jene Ray Barranco’s husband tragically died in a car accident. In her book Good Night, I Love You: A Widow’s Awakening from Pain to Purpose, Barranco chronicles her progression of grief and growth.
Barranco has a strong, steadfast faith in God, and the book shows how her faith is what pulled her through deeply difficult times. She includes passages from her journals (i.e. Day 62), giving readers a window into her thoughts. Following her husband’s death, Barranco started a ministry for single moms. Her book shows the reality of how tough grief can be, and she shares her family’s battles with PTSD.
Barranco writes beautifully. Her book is an encouragement for women who have been through the depths of grief, and it is also an encouragement for people in general.
*I received this book for review*
Barranco has a strong, steadfast faith in God, and the book shows how her faith is what pulled her through deeply difficult times. She includes passages from her journals (i.e. Day 62), giving readers a window into her thoughts. Following her husband’s death, Barranco started a ministry for single moms. Her book shows the reality of how tough grief can be, and she shares her family’s battles with PTSD.
Barranco writes beautifully. Her book is an encouragement for women who have been through the depths of grief, and it is also an encouragement for people in general.
*I received this book for review*
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews