Book Review: What Really Matters; 7 Lessons for Living from the Stories of the Dying

A "perfect storm" is brewing for 79 million members of the baby boom generation, according to Colorado physician Karen Wyatt. With advancing age, these individuals must cope with the passing of their parents while also confronting the inevitability of their own death.
"What Really Matters; 7 Lessons for Living from the Stories of the Dying" by Karen M. Wyatt, M.D., is a collection of stories about dying patients and their insights on living and dying.


About The Author
Karen M. Wyatt is a family physician who has spent her 25 year medical career working with patients in challenging settings, such as hospices, nursing homes and indigent clinics. She has founded a free medical clinic in a homeless shelter, accompanied three medical mission teams to Honduras, and led a non-profit clinic for the uninsured in its growth from a 4-hour per week all-volunteer operation to a full-time, full-service medical center.

7 Lessons For Living
This book was written by a physician who has spent many years caring for hospice patients. She wrote this book to share the life lessons that she learned from her patients. The lessons are based on seven statements that Jesus Christ uttered on the cross;

• The meaning of Suffering "I thirst."
• Love and recognizing life's priorities "Woman behold your son; behold your mother."
• Forgiveness and letting go of limiting beliefs and past traumas "Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing."
• Paradise "Truly I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise."
• The true Purpose of existence "My God, my God for this I was kept (this was the destiny for which I was born.)"
• Surrender and the key to unlocking the flow of grace "O my Father, into thy hands I commit my Spirit."
• Impermanence and transcending fear "It is fulfilled."

This book uses verses from the Bible but it's spiritual focus is not limited to any particular religious belief. The book has a strong message for readers of any faith or philosophy.

The chapters in this book include case studies of specific patients that Dr. Wyatt has worked with in the past. These stories illustrate how patients and their family members can experience profound spiritual growth during the final days of life.

My Thoughts
I read this book because of the experiences that my family had with hospice care when my father suffered from congestive heart failure and passed away in October, 2010.

I found the case studies and the teachings in this book to be very poignant and touching. I found myself in tears many times as I read this book.

I think one of the hardest lessons to learn is that we will all die and that death is not to be feared. We must stop denying death and focus on living lives that really matter. The final chapter in this book provides ideas for implementing the "7 Lessons" in daily life. I think you will find much food for thought in this book. This book will inspire and motivate you to make some changes in your life.
Highly Recommended!

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a paperback copy of this book to read and review from the author's publicist. Thank you!

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Book Review: Surprised By Suffering

I read the Kindle edition of Surprised by Suffering: The Role of Pain and Death in The Christian Life by R.C. Sproul.  Pastor Sproul is an American Calvinist theologian and pastor. He is the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries and can be heard daily on the Renewing Your Mind radio broadcast in the United States and internationally.  He has written 60 books on Christian living. This book was first published in 1988.  This edition features a new chapter on God's sovereignty in relation to suffering (Chapter 4), as well as  new Scripture and subject indexes.

I think all people are surprised when faced with suffering and death.  We are never prepared to handle these unpleasant circumstances in life.  The author examines and discusses the following questions;

Why do good people suffer with sickness and disease?
Is there a heaven where we will live after death?
Will we see our loved ones again?

Pastor Sproul leads the reader in a detailed Bible study on these topics.  He examines both Old Testament and New Testament Scpritures to find the answers to these questions.  He uses the Scriptures to provide comfort to Christians who have lost loved ones.  He also shares his views on how to deal with family members who are terminally ill.
I was drawn to this book because my father recently had a heart attack.  He is very ill and I am having a hard time dealing with this.  Surprised by Suffering: The Role of Pain and Death in The Christian Life was like a gift straight from God.  Pastor Sproul helped me understand the process of death and grief. 
The index at the back of the book is a very helpful reference tool.  This book is well worth the time it will take you to read it.