Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336 I binge-read my way through this book, and I'm not one bit guilty. In One Beautiful Dream, Jennifer Fulwiler puts her insecurities right there on the page for all to see. That's not news to anyone who's followed her blog, but it might be news if the only way you know her work is through her first book, Something Other than God, or through her radio show on SiriusXM's Catholic Channel. There's vulnerability in every chapter this book, and that's what makes it resonate with readers, no matter how much you have (or don't have) in common with Jennifer. While she brings plenty of the dry wit she's (deservedly) famous for, she also brings the wisdom -- the lessons she has had to learn as a woman, as a mother, and as a professional. There are lessons about trusting in God -- and acting like you trust in God after you say you trust in God. There are lessons about judging others' motives based on what you see on the outside. There are lessons about never letting fear control your decision-making. If you read Something Other than God or listen to Jennifer's radio show, while you'll hear a lot about her "crazy" life with 6 homeschooled kids in a small house, you might still get the impression that confidence rules the day for her. And if you're anything like me, you might get scared off a little, because confident people can have that effect on non-confident people. One Beautiful Dream, though, is not about confidence. At all. It's about realizing that you can't do all the things, and that it's OK to accept help, and that there are people who are good at the things you either can't stand to do or just plain aren't good at doing. When it comes right down to it, One Beautiful Dream is about humility. When we think we can have it all, that's pride talking. So here's my recommendation: plan an easy dinner that involves 5 minutes of work time and 45 minutes to an hour of idle cook time. Pour yourself a cup of your favorite beverage, and find a comfortable chair. Then let yourself dive in, and don't feel guilty for even a minute. Let Jennifer Fulwiler encourage you as you step forward in vulnerability.

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Copyright 2018 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS This article contains Amazon affiliate links; your purchases through these links benefit the author.

About the Author

Barb Szyszkiewicz

Barb Szyszkiewicz

Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at CatholicMom.com, is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at FranciscanMom and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at Cook and Count. Barb is the author of The Handy Little Guide to Prayer and The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours, available from Our Sunday Visitor.