Marci Alborghetti

A lovely story told by a grandfather to his grandchildren regarding what happened to the three gifts left for baby Jesus by the three wise men.

In this story, the drummer boy was made part of the family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Named
Simon, he grew, married and had a son named Mendel. Sadly, Mendel was born with paralyzed legs. Jesus made Mendel a cart so that he could navigate throughout the neighborhood.

Before she died, she gave Mendel the three gifts given by the wise men to baby Jesus. When Mendel learned that his neighbor Matthius was badly beaten and all his sheep stolen, he gave the gift of gold to Matthus so he might buy a new flock. The second gift, that of frankincense was given to Anna, a righteous woman who continually praised the teachings of Jesus. It was believed that Anna's prayers could be carried to heaven.

Crippled Mendel accidentally dropped the sack containing the precious myrrh, spreading to Mendel's thin, crippled legs, he experienced the miracle of the myrrh as he discovered he could indeed walk.

This book contains beautiful illustrations with spot color of UV lamination which brings light to the images.

This is another book I will keep on my shelves to share with children.

Four stars, primarily because of the lovely illustrations.… (mere)

I was a little hesitant in reading this book, as I have always prayed in a conversational manner. I enjoy the intimacy of prayer as though speaking to my Father, informally, just as I would to my Dad or another respected member of my family. But the author soon put me at ease, as she, too, enjoys that informal prayer.

The author covers those moments when we may not know how to pray for something. Or when circumstances, for instance severe pain, may make it difficult to think clearly enough to pray.

The author takes on a course of Thanksgiving prayer, Psalm prayers, and conversational as well as formal prayer. The author discusses our need and ways to pray not only for ourselves but for others, as well. And she discusses both prayer partners and prayer groups, as well as prayer meetings.

All in all, I was well pleased with this book, and came away excited to use some of the author's approaches to prayer. And a renewed desire to keep my prayer journal up to date. (I often put in my prayer requests so that I don't forget them, or forget someone I am praying for. But I more than often forget to put in when the prayer has been answered so that I may be certain to do a prayer of Thanksgiving for the answered prayer.)

I highly recommend you read a copy of this book, even if you feel, as I did, that your prayer life is just fine. It opened my eyes to the subtle nuances of prayer, and that closeness we feel when we pray both in need and in Thanksgiving. But mostly, it made me realize the need for prayer with an expectation of answer, in one form or another as God so chooses. And that is something we often forget.… (mere)