A Willing Heart: How to Serve When You Think You Can't - Softcover

Alborghetti, Marci

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1594712484 ISBN 13: 9781594712487

Publisher: Ave Maria Pr, 2011

Synopsis

Bestselling author Marci Alborghetti weaves together wisdom, humor, personal stories, and a series of attainable goals in this vision of Christian action that is at once a beautiful meditation on spiritual growth and a common-sense guide to discovering practical ways to serve.

What began with a traumatic home robbery became Marci Alborghetti's first step on a journey toward a deep commitment to Christian service. Part spiritual memoir and part exhortation, A Willing Heart is for anyone who feels overwhelmed at the prospect of one more item on the weekly calendar, and for those who worry that they might not have much to offer. Alborghetti offers an inspiring invitation to personal growth through Christian action that is sensible, realistic, and joyful.

Each chapter presents a three-part structure of theme, story, and one practical, entirely doable step toward service. Replete with inspiring vignettes from Alborghetti's life and the lives of the saints, as well as suggestions that begin in your own living room, A Willing Heart will help you implement the practice of compassion in everyday life.

About this title

About the Author

Marci Alborghetti is a freelance writer and the author of fourteen books published over the past decade. Alborghetti and her husband Charlie are active together in Christian service and have founded and facilitated several reading groups; most recently The Saint James Literary Club, a book group started at the Saint James Homeless Shelter in New London, Connecticut.

Review

"Marci Alborghetti's A Willing Heart is a warm, common sense vision of Christian service that can be done right at

home."--Donna Markham, O.P., Chair, Board of Trustees, Catholic Charities USA

"Selflessly serving others often sounds good in theory but can be nearly impossible to put into practice in our day-to-day lives. Marci Alborghetti's wonderful new book challenges us to go outside our comfort zones to walk the road of love and service, and to do it with joy. Following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, she urges us to preach more through our actions than our words."--Mary DeTurris Poust, Author of Walking Together: Discovering the Catholic Tradition of Spiritual Friendship

"This is a gem of a book! Marci presents both the joy and the challenge of service with great insight into the opportunities God presents to us and the way in which we can and do respond. Her examples from both the lives of the saints and her own grace-filled journey are very real and prompt me to say, "I could do that!" or "I have done that." or maybe, 'Could I really do that?' The format at the end of each chapter with Scripture, prayer, questions for consideration, and suggestions for service lends itself to individual and group reflection. Everyone reading A Willing Heart will feel both affirmed and encouraged by what service they currently give and invited to embrace service as a focus in all their decision-making."--Margaret Crowley, R.S.M., Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, FL

"Provocative, thoughtful, gentle challenging, urging responsibility--a conscience-raising read--it is all there...a manual to be a better human being." ----Dr. Marylouise Fennell, Senior Counsel, Council of Independent Colleges, Past President, Carlow University (PA)

About this edition

• Publisher: Ave Maria Pr
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1594712484
• ISBN 13: 9781594712487
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 147