Review
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Title: Until You Find Strength
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Author: Jason F. Wright
Genre: Inspirational
Year Published: 2022
Number of Pages: 32
Binding: Hardback
ISBN: 13: 978-1-62972-995-4
Price: 15.99
Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association for Mormon Letters
The subtitle of this very unique book is “A Message Of Comfort For When Your Grief Feels Too Heavy.” In general, this small gift book is meant to be given to someone who has lost a loved one. The message of Until You Find Strength, written in a prose style, is acknowledging the sorrow, loneliness, heartache, confusion, anger, silence, grief, and all the other emotions that go along with the grieving process. It is written in a similar style as that of a greeting card, while mentioning these feelings of the bereaved, the reoccurring theme states sentiments like, “we are still here for you, we have faith in you, if you don’t hear from us, or if it’s been too long since we brought you warm cookies, please call, we will come running” and so on.
The most poignant part of Until You Find Strength is where Wright mentions his service in various ecclesiastical roles over the years; where he sat with many people in their grief, from noisy emergency rooms to quiet living rooms months later, where he shared tears and advice with those mourning. Mr. Wright goes on to state that he is not formally trained or licensed, and his advice should not be considered professional, but that over the years he has seen key principles that worked.
These principles include doing the little things, focusing on simple everyday tasks when you are able, and this will help you during the chaotic times. Don’t fear the laughter. When someone asks you to tell them something funny that the loved one did or said, go ahead and remember those times too.
Through it all, Wright reminds readers that grief is an individual process, and no one should tell another how long their grieving process should last or how it should be handled. Let those who mourn go through this in their own way and their own timetable. Just let them know you are there and will always be there for them. Isn’t that what the Savior would want us to do?