Finding JOY takes its readers along twists and turns as the author walks through the tunnel of grief while dealing with the loss of her husband of 44 years. It is not easy to accept life when God takes something cherished from your grasp. As you read through the pages and the pathway traveled, you will find that God does not punish us; rather, He opens our hands and hearts to receive what He has for those of us who remain until our own journey comes to an end. You will learn that the will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.
Kay Thomson grew up in a Christian home in New Jersey where her father pastored the First United Methodist Church, Barrington, New Jersey. At age 19, she married Dale Thomson and they moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. Kay committed her life to the Lord at age 21, and her life began a new chapter following whatever God had planned for her. Kay and Dale enjoyed family life with their two daughters, their sons-in-law, and their six grandchildren.
The couple spent 44 years serving together in both music and teaching ministries at First Baptist Church, Los Altos, California. On August 10, 2008, God chose to change the course of the couple's path together and Kay began traveling a new path alone as she entered into a new journey with God as her sole provider. Kay has worked as a professional in the high-tech industry for 17 years. She has recently found joy in volunteering at a cancer center. She also leads The Encouragers, a group of widowed women and men who meet regularly to study God's Word and encourage one another on their own journey to joy.
Thomson's searching memoir is notable for the intimate second-person perspective in which she writes as if she is composing a personal letter to readers. With frank, non-linear outbursts of sorrow, she explores grief with unflinching honesty, defying the world's two- or three-month rule of moving on. "Each person's grief is unique to their situation," she notes, her prose calm, open-hearted, at times even cheerful. Her own unique story is gracefully intertwined with scripture, inspirational sayings, and takeaway insights in each chapter that emphasize the magnitude and the ongoing journey of her loss. While her account is somewhat segmented, it conveys her message with power: that people can find joy despite loss when they learn to grieve with God.
Thomson writes, "I believe even the ugly and unwanted parts of our lives are all a part of God's plan," as she surrenders to her faith that what she wants isn't always what God wills. Finding Joy in the Midst of Grief is a gentle yet urgent reminder that faith can be a sustaining and uplifting anchor and a living testament to the enduring power of belief in God's grace—perfect for readers looking for the opportunity to deepen their faith in the face of grief.
Takeaway: A bereaved wife’s touching journey to joy and strengthened faith after loss.
Comparable Titles: Rebecca Foster's Faith's Guiding Light, Sarah Mitchell's Embracing Hope Amidst Sorrow.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
