Book Review: The 13th Gift by Joanne Huist Smith

Book Review:  The 13th Gift by Joanne Huist Smith

The 13th Gift was the perfect story for me to read this week.  I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review and it came at the right time.  I started reading this two days ago following Christmas and for me this was a time when I was feeling frustrated in how materialistic everything seems to be during the holidays. My kids loved their gifts but are at the point where they need the structure again of school and are starting to needle each other and complain to me "how bored they are."  This book brought my life back into perspective and reminded me to enjoy these moments with my family.

Summary from Goodreads:

For readers of Richard Paul Evans and Greg Kincaid comes The 13th Gift, a heartwarming Christmas story about how a random act of kindness transformed one of the bleakest moments in a family's history into a time of strength and love.

Goodreads.com

After the unexpected death of her husband, Joanne Huist Smith had no idea how she would keep herself together and be strong for her three children--especially with the holiday season approaching. But 12 days before Christmas, presents begin appearing on her doorstep with notes from their "True Friends." As the Smiths came together to solve the mystery of who the gifts were from, they began to thaw out from their grief and come together again as a family. This true story about the power of random acts of kindness will warm the heart, a beautiful reminder of the miracles of Christmas and the gift of family during the holiday season.

About the Author:

Joanne Huist Smith is a native of Dayton, OH. She earned a bachelor's degree in English at Wright State University and worked as a reporter for the Dayton Daily News. She is the mother of three and grandmother of two.

My Review:

The 13th Gift is the true story of how Joanne Huist Smith and her children found the courage to get through their first Christmas without her husband who passed away unexpectedly.  Little by little they began healing with the little help from some anonymous gift-givers who delivered presents to their house for twelve days prior to Christmas.  Each chapter is focuses on one of the twelve days, the gift they received, and the memories rekindled that gave them hope and brought the family back together.  My favorite quote from the whole story was when Megan, Smith's 10 year old daughter, told her mother, "We're not falling apart;  we're just chipped a little bit.  You do what you can, Mom.  We all do." Somehow through the devastation that the family had been through, this young girl was able to bring optimism and spirit to her mother.

What really hit home to me was how this simple act of kindness brought joy and hope to this family.  As they received these gifts, they began to pay it forward to others.  Kindness spreads.  If there is one lesson I take from this story, it is to stop and think about how I can help others, even in the simplest ways.  Who knows - it may change someone's life.  If you are looking for a book to read and read again when you are feeling like the world is a mess, try this one.  It is worth it.