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Bead by Bead: The Ancient Way of Praying Made New
A creative way to pray – across faith traditions – made new for all who seek a more intimate experience with God. Lushly illustrated.
Divided into three parts, the first part of Bead by Bead takes a historical look at prayer beads across centuries and cultures. Part Two showcases opportunities for heart/mind/body ways to “pray the beads without the beads,” including activities that are whimsical, ordinary, and spirited, to inspire readers to create their own. The book concludes with an invitation to contemplate one’s own life as a rosary. Readers are encouraged to draw their own set of prayer beads and, with discernment and prayer, label each bead. They then can keep and literally hold their life in their hands in prayer, gratitude, and awe.
Divided into three parts, the first part of Bead by Bead takes a historical look at prayer beads across centuries and cultures. Part Two showcases opportunities for heart/mind/body ways to “pray the beads without the beads,” including activities that are whimsical, ordinary, and spirited, to inspire readers to create their own. The book concludes with an invitation to contemplate one’s own life as a rosary. Readers are encouraged to draw their own set of prayer beads and, with discernment and prayer, label each bead. They then can keep and literally hold their life in their hands in prayer, gratitude, and awe.
- GenresNonfiction
112 pages, Paperback
Published March 13, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 13, 2018
Suzanne Henley doesn’t claim to be an expert on prayer beads, or even on prayer itself. But I love what she says about prayer in that very disclaimer in the beginning of her book, in the section called “Rebranding Prayer”:
"I have no idea whether prayer produces any external results. I have to come to believe, though, if nothing else, it is where I most squarely meet myself. I think it is the psychic glue between my conscious and shadow self where we all wrestle with Jacob’s angel and count our scars later."
She introduces the book by explaining that each of the stories she has included represent “a prayer bead in my life’s rosary…. The book is also an adult version of Show and Tell of some of the hundreds and hundreds of sets of prayer beads I’ve made—each unique, many commissioned to be carried to diverse people around the world. Many of the stories I tell are accounts of these real people for whom praying bead by bead has become an essential spiritual practice.”
In the Prologue, Suzanne tells the story of her employee, O.G. Pierre (“Original Gangster Pierre) who asked her to make prayer bead necklaces for all the members of his gang, using a Star of David for each one, since it was the symbol of the Gangster Disciples. She had to decline that request.
In “Talking to God in Braile,” she traces the history of prayer beads in various pre-Christian religions, and then continues with the history of prayer beads being used by Christian faiths, including Orthodox prayer ropes and Catholic rosaries.
In “Clearing Your Cache and Beginning to Pray,” Suzanne explains how to use the beads—physically and spiritually—in your daily encounters with God.
In “Prayers, Poems, Lectio, Music, Silence,” she encourages the reader to write her own prayers, but she also offers some traditional prayers for use with prayer beads, and talks about the use of hymns, chanting, and even classical music and opera to assist in prayer.
In “Praying the Beads Without the Beads,” she offers opportunities for prayer while grocery shopping, waiting in traffic or a doctor’s office, doing laundry, and other everyday situations. In this and other chapters, she infuses her writing with humorous true stories from her life, like “Jesus and Tomatoes Coming Soon.”
Her chapter, “Homework: Life as a Set of Prayer Beads,” contains the story of her experience having a panic attack and checking into a psychiatric facility, which she wrote about in her essay for A Second Blooming. She also writes about the business she started, renovating homes in a historic district here in Memphis, offering a strong parallel between her rehab in the psychiatric facility and rehabbing these houses:
"And, as trite as it is to say, we are all, of course, rehabs. Every moment. Every day. Even when we seem to be stuck out in some endless, parched desert, our hearts and souls cracking and dying of thirst, we’re handed the gift of starting over. Failure simply means an opportunity to begin again. We get to wrench out those old, rusted nails we worked so hard to hammer in crookedly, pull out the warped boards, and try once more to hammer a straighter nail. Every day."
This chapter also contains the story of her experiences hitchhiking in Europe, and riding in the cab of a truck full of sheep going through the Alps in a snowstorm. Her fascinating life has definitely offered fodder for a colorful memoir!
In “The Cruciform Beads of Life” she gives the reader specific instructions for using the prayer beads with drawing and journaling—alone or with a group. This chapter also contains more of Suzanne’s wonderful mini-memoirs, including a story about how fly fishing can heal, as well as anecdotes about chin hairs, heart attacks, and the Holy Spirit riding a Harley!
“The Crucible” describes some of her work with glass, including a description of an installation she did for a hospice facility in Memphis. She also describes how she created a “moving rosary” by stringing prayer beads on copper wire and attaching them to plaques by each resident’s room in the facility. I love this section, partly because I had several experiences being with loved ones in their final days with hospice care. And the crucible?
"People of all faiths, of no faith, of all socioeconomic levels are held in that holiest of places, a crucible between the Mystery of Life and the Mystery of Death and—as you and I eventually will, too— learn both that 'in my beginning is my end' and 'in my end is my beginning,' which is also the path of a set of prayer beads."
I can’t recommend this book highly enough, for everyone who has an interest in art, prayer, and real-life stories that entertain, encourage, and inspire. I’ll close with one of my favorite quotes from the book:
Although saying “Life is a set of prayer beads” makes me feel like a bumper sticker, or Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates, our lives are indeed living rosaries, regardless of whatever it is we happen to believe—or not believe—about religion and the Spirit.
"I have no idea whether prayer produces any external results. I have to come to believe, though, if nothing else, it is where I most squarely meet myself. I think it is the psychic glue between my conscious and shadow self where we all wrestle with Jacob’s angel and count our scars later."
She introduces the book by explaining that each of the stories she has included represent “a prayer bead in my life’s rosary…. The book is also an adult version of Show and Tell of some of the hundreds and hundreds of sets of prayer beads I’ve made—each unique, many commissioned to be carried to diverse people around the world. Many of the stories I tell are accounts of these real people for whom praying bead by bead has become an essential spiritual practice.”
In the Prologue, Suzanne tells the story of her employee, O.G. Pierre (“Original Gangster Pierre) who asked her to make prayer bead necklaces for all the members of his gang, using a Star of David for each one, since it was the symbol of the Gangster Disciples. She had to decline that request.
In “Talking to God in Braile,” she traces the history of prayer beads in various pre-Christian religions, and then continues with the history of prayer beads being used by Christian faiths, including Orthodox prayer ropes and Catholic rosaries.
In “Clearing Your Cache and Beginning to Pray,” Suzanne explains how to use the beads—physically and spiritually—in your daily encounters with God.
In “Prayers, Poems, Lectio, Music, Silence,” she encourages the reader to write her own prayers, but she also offers some traditional prayers for use with prayer beads, and talks about the use of hymns, chanting, and even classical music and opera to assist in prayer.
In “Praying the Beads Without the Beads,” she offers opportunities for prayer while grocery shopping, waiting in traffic or a doctor’s office, doing laundry, and other everyday situations. In this and other chapters, she infuses her writing with humorous true stories from her life, like “Jesus and Tomatoes Coming Soon.”
Her chapter, “Homework: Life as a Set of Prayer Beads,” contains the story of her experience having a panic attack and checking into a psychiatric facility, which she wrote about in her essay for A Second Blooming. She also writes about the business she started, renovating homes in a historic district here in Memphis, offering a strong parallel between her rehab in the psychiatric facility and rehabbing these houses:
"And, as trite as it is to say, we are all, of course, rehabs. Every moment. Every day. Even when we seem to be stuck out in some endless, parched desert, our hearts and souls cracking and dying of thirst, we’re handed the gift of starting over. Failure simply means an opportunity to begin again. We get to wrench out those old, rusted nails we worked so hard to hammer in crookedly, pull out the warped boards, and try once more to hammer a straighter nail. Every day."
This chapter also contains the story of her experiences hitchhiking in Europe, and riding in the cab of a truck full of sheep going through the Alps in a snowstorm. Her fascinating life has definitely offered fodder for a colorful memoir!
In “The Cruciform Beads of Life” she gives the reader specific instructions for using the prayer beads with drawing and journaling—alone or with a group. This chapter also contains more of Suzanne’s wonderful mini-memoirs, including a story about how fly fishing can heal, as well as anecdotes about chin hairs, heart attacks, and the Holy Spirit riding a Harley!
“The Crucible” describes some of her work with glass, including a description of an installation she did for a hospice facility in Memphis. She also describes how she created a “moving rosary” by stringing prayer beads on copper wire and attaching them to plaques by each resident’s room in the facility. I love this section, partly because I had several experiences being with loved ones in their final days with hospice care. And the crucible?
"People of all faiths, of no faith, of all socioeconomic levels are held in that holiest of places, a crucible between the Mystery of Life and the Mystery of Death and—as you and I eventually will, too— learn both that 'in my beginning is my end' and 'in my end is my beginning,' which is also the path of a set of prayer beads."
I can’t recommend this book highly enough, for everyone who has an interest in art, prayer, and real-life stories that entertain, encourage, and inspire. I’ll close with one of my favorite quotes from the book:
Although saying “Life is a set of prayer beads” makes me feel like a bumper sticker, or Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates, our lives are indeed living rosaries, regardless of whatever it is we happen to believe—or not believe—about religion and the Spirit.
June 27, 2019
This book floored me. It draws on the author's own Episcopal and Baptist faith, but it doesn't push a Christian agenda (or any agenda!). Suzanne Henley exudes love for everyone, and the focus of the book is on making prayer work for you, whatever that means, and whoever or whatever you're praying to. It is about prayer as a sublime and mundane daily experience, about connecting with yourself and whatever you choose to worship. I found it truly touching and helpful.
August 27, 2018
Last summer, sitting on a rocky beach with family all around, I noticed a small white shell among the scramble of stones and shards of driftwood. Soon I had collected a handful, all pure white and perfectly whorled, the former dwelling place for some diminutive, absentee mollusk. For a few days, I carried them around in my pocket, reaching in to finger their smooth contours, already wondering what practical use I could devise for them, and their story would have ended in a dark kitchen cupboard if Paraclete Press had not sent me a copy of Bead by Bead: The Ancient Way of Praying Made New.
I am Protestant to the bone, and it would never have occurred to me that ten small white shells in my hand could represent ten members of my family and serve as a tactile reminder to pray for each, one by one. Author and jewelry designer Suzanne Henley reminds readers that ancient practices of prayer were very tactile. Bead by bead, fingers remembered what the heart cherished, and words would spring to mind.
As a glass artist, Henley has the unique privilege of crafting customized prayer beads, and her creative view of the world lends a gritty practicality to the business of prayer that so many of us talk about — but so few of us practice in the way we want to.
“Praying is not just an arcane, dusty practice that a group of humorless, self-righteous old men sat down and made up a long time ago. It is not just words in a prayer book. It’s not a milquetoast, rehearsed exhortation delivered in a faux-devout voice to begin a citywide prayer breakfast with cold scrambled eggs. We carry this need for connection in our guts . . .” (xi)
The History of Prayer Beads
So, as Suzanne scoops handfuls of Mongolian sand beads from the Gobi Desert and beads crafted from ancient Roman glass fragments, she invites us to look with new eyes at a tradition that, by the time of the Reformation, had deteriorated into an empty piling of slippery words upon which the praying saint hoped to ascend to heaven. Fast forward to 1987, however, and to the statisticians’s great surprise, as church affiliation begins a decline, the use of Protestant prayer beads is in an upswing.
Madeleine L’Engle described prayer beads as a tool to “enflesh the words, make thought tangible.” Maybe our distracted, squirrel-chasing, social-media-saturated brains are seeking an analog anchor. Apparently, the earliest known example of tactile prayer reminders were used by the Desert Fathers who committed to praying the 150 Psalms twice a day. In order to keep track of the number, they carried 300 pebbles in their cloaks, tossing one out after each prayer. Because I am unfamiliar with the historic prayers associated with the rosary, I appreciated a charming child-drawn diagram, as well as the road map for Protestant prayer beads which proscribes no set words or prayers.
Prayer and Work
Suzanne and I are kindred spirits in our numbering of the tedious steps of grocery shopping: “Into the basket, out of the basket onto the checkout stand, into the bags, into the car, into the house, and into the fridge and cabinets . . .” (43) However, instead of an occasion for grumpiness, Suzanne sees grocery shopping as a “weekly prayer-bead adventure” in which she meditates on the fruit of the Spirit in the produce section, wordlessly blesses fellow shoppers, and quiets her heart while pushing her cart.
Cracking 360 eggs to make breakfast for a gathering of homeless people, Suzanne also practices a ministry of prayer with each thwack against the rim of the bowl, reminding me of prayers I lifted while pinning small socks to a clothesline (Thank you for the gift of this small life . . .), or, more recently, over sports uniforms and tattered work pants (Bless this boy with safety and success . . . ).
Whether we use beads or seashells, the events of our life, or the fingers of both hands to mark the practice of our prayers, the prayers are offered, word-by-word, thought-by-thought. This is also the nature of a life poured out, not in a great gush, once and for all, but drop-by-drop as we pay attention to the voice of the Spirit and open our hands as well as our hearts in gratitude, thanksgiving, and love.
Many thanks to Paraclete Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.
I am Protestant to the bone, and it would never have occurred to me that ten small white shells in my hand could represent ten members of my family and serve as a tactile reminder to pray for each, one by one. Author and jewelry designer Suzanne Henley reminds readers that ancient practices of prayer were very tactile. Bead by bead, fingers remembered what the heart cherished, and words would spring to mind.
As a glass artist, Henley has the unique privilege of crafting customized prayer beads, and her creative view of the world lends a gritty practicality to the business of prayer that so many of us talk about — but so few of us practice in the way we want to.
“Praying is not just an arcane, dusty practice that a group of humorless, self-righteous old men sat down and made up a long time ago. It is not just words in a prayer book. It’s not a milquetoast, rehearsed exhortation delivered in a faux-devout voice to begin a citywide prayer breakfast with cold scrambled eggs. We carry this need for connection in our guts . . .” (xi)
The History of Prayer Beads
So, as Suzanne scoops handfuls of Mongolian sand beads from the Gobi Desert and beads crafted from ancient Roman glass fragments, she invites us to look with new eyes at a tradition that, by the time of the Reformation, had deteriorated into an empty piling of slippery words upon which the praying saint hoped to ascend to heaven. Fast forward to 1987, however, and to the statisticians’s great surprise, as church affiliation begins a decline, the use of Protestant prayer beads is in an upswing.
Madeleine L’Engle described prayer beads as a tool to “enflesh the words, make thought tangible.” Maybe our distracted, squirrel-chasing, social-media-saturated brains are seeking an analog anchor. Apparently, the earliest known example of tactile prayer reminders were used by the Desert Fathers who committed to praying the 150 Psalms twice a day. In order to keep track of the number, they carried 300 pebbles in their cloaks, tossing one out after each prayer. Because I am unfamiliar with the historic prayers associated with the rosary, I appreciated a charming child-drawn diagram, as well as the road map for Protestant prayer beads which proscribes no set words or prayers.
Prayer and Work
Suzanne and I are kindred spirits in our numbering of the tedious steps of grocery shopping: “Into the basket, out of the basket onto the checkout stand, into the bags, into the car, into the house, and into the fridge and cabinets . . .” (43) However, instead of an occasion for grumpiness, Suzanne sees grocery shopping as a “weekly prayer-bead adventure” in which she meditates on the fruit of the Spirit in the produce section, wordlessly blesses fellow shoppers, and quiets her heart while pushing her cart.
Cracking 360 eggs to make breakfast for a gathering of homeless people, Suzanne also practices a ministry of prayer with each thwack against the rim of the bowl, reminding me of prayers I lifted while pinning small socks to a clothesline (Thank you for the gift of this small life . . .), or, more recently, over sports uniforms and tattered work pants (Bless this boy with safety and success . . . ).
Whether we use beads or seashells, the events of our life, or the fingers of both hands to mark the practice of our prayers, the prayers are offered, word-by-word, thought-by-thought. This is also the nature of a life poured out, not in a great gush, once and for all, but drop-by-drop as we pay attention to the voice of the Spirit and open our hands as well as our hearts in gratitude, thanksgiving, and love.
Many thanks to Paraclete Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.
June 28, 2018
Some books delight or inspire us for the time it takes to read them; others offer insights, characters, or ideas that stay with us. Suzanne Henley’s Bead by Bead does both. But for me there is a third precious and powerful gift. This book has nudged, cajoled, and, finally, convinced me to commit to a practice that has confounded me most of my life: I’ve decided to trust that I can really pray.
Like so many people, I was raised with prayer---passionate, faithful, loving prayer in my family and my church. But, though I have always prayed, I’ve always been beset with questions about prayer theology, and dismay with the absence of the feelings I thought were supposed to accompany and result from prayer. Though my spiritual journey has always been at the center of everything important, I reluctantly decided that whatever spiritual gifts I might have been granted, prayer was not one of them.
The deepest blessing of Bead by Bead is that it has shown me that prayer is not an activity separate from anything else in life, or something that there is only one proper way to do. It’s not an accessory, like our beautiful Sunday best attire, or an expression of any separate part of our being. It is, as Henley says, a “kinesis of body, mind, and heart.” It is all of who we are---the visible and the hidden---and it connects us with all that is.
Through her stories of dramatically intense pain and joy, as well as those of the tedium of ordinary days, we discover that prayer is both what draws us into the core of experience and what lifts us to what’s beyond it.
A major strength in Henley’s writing is her ability to illumine the paradoxical nature of the transformative power of prayer. She often does this through buoyant, even prankish, humor. But the humor is so deftly wrought that it never trivializes the gravitas of her experience.
Whatever your understanding of prayer, Bead by Bead will deepen and enrich it. And it may well lead you where you have not been before.
Like so many people, I was raised with prayer---passionate, faithful, loving prayer in my family and my church. But, though I have always prayed, I’ve always been beset with questions about prayer theology, and dismay with the absence of the feelings I thought were supposed to accompany and result from prayer. Though my spiritual journey has always been at the center of everything important, I reluctantly decided that whatever spiritual gifts I might have been granted, prayer was not one of them.
The deepest blessing of Bead by Bead is that it has shown me that prayer is not an activity separate from anything else in life, or something that there is only one proper way to do. It’s not an accessory, like our beautiful Sunday best attire, or an expression of any separate part of our being. It is, as Henley says, a “kinesis of body, mind, and heart.” It is all of who we are---the visible and the hidden---and it connects us with all that is.
Through her stories of dramatically intense pain and joy, as well as those of the tedium of ordinary days, we discover that prayer is both what draws us into the core of experience and what lifts us to what’s beyond it.
A major strength in Henley’s writing is her ability to illumine the paradoxical nature of the transformative power of prayer. She often does this through buoyant, even prankish, humor. But the humor is so deftly wrought that it never trivializes the gravitas of her experience.
Whatever your understanding of prayer, Bead by Bead will deepen and enrich it. And it may well lead you where you have not been before.
November 12, 2018
Bead By Bead is a prayer bead book by author Suzanne Henley. I chose this book because I was interested in using beads as a prayer reminder. I think the author wrote this book to help readers be more intentional in prayer.
There are three parts to the short 86-page book. The first part focused on religions that use prayer beads, Christian or not. The second part focused on activities done with prayer beads. Examples in the book are traditional prayers ("Lamb of God", A Celtic Prayer, and others). Prayers of confession, prayers for protection and other things to focus on are hymns, stoplight prayers, etc. The last section is where you make your own prayer beads according to your life experiences.
The thing I liked least about this book is the inclusion of other religions and the quote on page #82. "Mythologist Joseph Campbell reminds us that "the problem with hell is that the fires don't consume you. The fires of transformation do," but also that "love informs the whole universe, right down into the abyss of hell."
I learned that the design for the Protestant prayer beads is circular beads, a sacred object, usually a cross, and an Invitatory bead. There are a total of 33 beads, the number of years of Christ's life on earth.
Because of what I have already mentioned I do not recommend this book.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
There are three parts to the short 86-page book. The first part focused on religions that use prayer beads, Christian or not. The second part focused on activities done with prayer beads. Examples in the book are traditional prayers ("Lamb of God", A Celtic Prayer, and others). Prayers of confession, prayers for protection and other things to focus on are hymns, stoplight prayers, etc. The last section is where you make your own prayer beads according to your life experiences.
The thing I liked least about this book is the inclusion of other religions and the quote on page #82. "Mythologist Joseph Campbell reminds us that "the problem with hell is that the fires don't consume you. The fires of transformation do," but also that "love informs the whole universe, right down into the abyss of hell."
I learned that the design for the Protestant prayer beads is circular beads, a sacred object, usually a cross, and an Invitatory bead. There are a total of 33 beads, the number of years of Christ's life on earth.
Because of what I have already mentioned I do not recommend this book.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
March 19, 2018
God IS everywhere ... maybe on Aisle 6!
Bead by Bead is a delightful and inspiring book that reminds us to look for the connections with the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. Suzanne Henley’s engaging life stories show us what powerful connections to your spirituality are on offer for us and often in the most unexpected places. We sometimes miss these rich opportunities because we are caught up in the busyness of everyday life. The book is a reminder to be fully cognizant of these occurrences in our lives so that we are open to these “God moments” when they present themselves.
Ms. Henley shows us that it is not necessary to drop to one’s knees or be in a church to have prayer as an integral part of our lives. Rather it is those little moments throughout the day which should give us pause and allow us to reflect our feelings to God.
The author’s personal stories, full of wit and wisdom, were both captivating and inspiring. When I finished the book I found myself hungry for more. I particularly enjoyed learning about the history of prayer beads; perhaps my own beads will come out of the drawer and become a tool to deepen my prayer life. Thank you, Suzanne Henley, for this beautiful book that encourages us to look for the “golden nuggets” God places in our lives every day.
Bead by Bead is a delightful and inspiring book that reminds us to look for the connections with the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. Suzanne Henley’s engaging life stories show us what powerful connections to your spirituality are on offer for us and often in the most unexpected places. We sometimes miss these rich opportunities because we are caught up in the busyness of everyday life. The book is a reminder to be fully cognizant of these occurrences in our lives so that we are open to these “God moments” when they present themselves.
Ms. Henley shows us that it is not necessary to drop to one’s knees or be in a church to have prayer as an integral part of our lives. Rather it is those little moments throughout the day which should give us pause and allow us to reflect our feelings to God.
The author’s personal stories, full of wit and wisdom, were both captivating and inspiring. When I finished the book I found myself hungry for more. I particularly enjoyed learning about the history of prayer beads; perhaps my own beads will come out of the drawer and become a tool to deepen my prayer life. Thank you, Suzanne Henley, for this beautiful book that encourages us to look for the “golden nuggets” God places in our lives every day.
August 17, 2018
I am savoring this beautiful book, and turning to it nightly as a touchstone at my day's end. Written in accessible language so compelling and engaging, Suzanne Henley Smith's voice is like listening to a friend so rife with personality, I want to hear everything she has to say! There is a wealth of information regarding historical use of prayer practice with the use of beads. I am learning much about various religious practices, and the common thread of a physical ornament to ground one into prayer is something I find reverent in its intent and focus. This is a book for everybody: the devout, the spiritual, the artistic, the seeker. It is a manual of fine balance mixed with humor and intelligence, and its specific aim is something I find admirable as it unites. I recommend this book as a call to worship, no matter one's proclivity or denomination. It is thought-provoking in its invitation to deepen one's relationship with prayer, and I am so pleased to have found this book!
October 23, 2021
This is wonderfully informative and insightful when on topic, but an incredible portion of this book is a memoir instead of anything about prayer. I personally find her anecdotes and personal connections distracting from the actual content, no matter how powerful and emotional her story is. The last three chapters seem entirely unneccessary, though the final chapter does serve as a vague conclusion. Nevertheless, this book offers a lot of history on prayer beads and several practical approaches to use tehm, even if I'm not drawn to her preferred method of using life events.
April 21, 2018
Thought provoking, funny and poignant. Read it in just a few hours in one sitting. If you are seeking a way to make your prayers more meaningful or focused or just a new way to pray, this is the book for you.
July 22, 2018
Not What I Expected
I was expecting more of a “how to” book with lots of gorgeous pictures and great ideas. What I got was a sort of memoir and much more insightful. I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it. Definitely worth reading!
I was expecting more of a “how to” book with lots of gorgeous pictures and great ideas. What I got was a sort of memoir and much more insightful. I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it. Definitely worth reading!
February 23, 2020
One of the most life-giring books I've read.
This book is worth reading even if you don't care to use prayer beads in your devotions. It is full of life and movement, and the heart of Jesus rests on each page. I will read this book many times.
This book is worth reading even if you don't care to use prayer beads in your devotions. It is full of life and movement, and the heart of Jesus rests on each page. I will read this book many times.
April 21, 2025
I appreciated the history of the Anglican prayer beads as well as the instruction on how to use them.
I felt like the author was a little all over the place - a little story, a little geography, a little example. I could have used a little more coherent focus.
I felt like the author was a little all over the place - a little story, a little geography, a little example. I could have used a little more coherent focus.
July 26, 2018
The stories in this book made me laugh, touched my soul, and truly resonated with me. I love using prayer beads and this best book I have read about this practice.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews