Tear Soup
Add this book, Tear Soup by Pat Schweibert, to your list of books everyone must read.
Why? Because it kindly and compassionately guides you through the journey of grieving. You will find no academic language or obscure theory in Tear Soup, just kindness and clarity. You will know why you are feeling the way you are, and why people are acting the way they do. Furthermore, you will allow more compassion for yourself (a miracle) and for others.
The Portland, Oregon author has turned her home into a hospice and has hosted dying people there for years. She knows what you need for your tear soup.
Because you will experience loss and grief over and over again, it behooves you to know how to move through it. Knowing the ropes will make your journey safer and more comfortable even in your discomfort and loss. Grieving belongs to us as humans just as does falling in love and finding your soul’s work contributions. Don’t skip it. It makes our lives rich.
One of my teachers said rightly, “All therapy is grief therapy.”
Taylor Bills beautifully and lovingly illustrated Tear Soup. These illustrations help me immensely. I find the illustrations soften my heart, but not my head. I recommend you read this to children long before they have a need for it as if loss isn’t a continual occurrence during life.
To preview his sweet, inviting illustrations go to Amazon and look at some. To do that, click here. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0961519762/williamwittmannvA/
... then click the title to go to the main Tear Soup page. Then click the link on the book cover in the upper left hand part of the page. It says – Look Inside. You have to see the illustrations to appreciate their full value.
“William, it looks great for kids, does the book work for adults?”
“Yes! Tear Soup came to me from one of my adult patients who is grieving the most grievous loss you can imagine. Its gentleness held her confidently and supported her through this “more than she can bear” time.
“Don’t worry, although the book is sweet and compassionate, it does not lack for muscle.”
One of the opening pages displays soup pots lined up on a kitchen counter. The tiny saucepan sits on the left and the huge institutional pot on the right.
She labels them, smallest to largest –
• Not Fair
• Bad News
• Big Disappointment
• Serious Heartache
• Profound Loss
• Major Tragedy
• More Than I Can Bear
Get the book. Read it. Read it to your children and/or grandchildren. Bring it out as needed. Leave it lying around for guerrilla therapy.
Blessings and thanks for buying from my Amazon bookstore,
William
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Notes to self: Write review for Amazon.
