"Everyday Grace: Having Hope, Finding Forgiveness, and Making Miracles" by Marianne Williamson (published 2002)

Marianne Williamson's “Everyday Grace: Having Hope, Finding Forgiveness, and Making Miracles” is a magical book on how we can live life better and more fully, every moment of our lives. This book is addressed to everyone, and starts off with a wonderful interpretation of the Harry Potter world, in which we all start off as plain Muggles and find the magic within our lives with a little help. Further on, there are deeply moving interpretations of fairy tales, such as Cinderella:

“When Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother waved her wand… a shimmering energy of golden light surrounded the object of her attention… mice turned into horses, a pumpkin turned into a carriage, and rags turned into a beautiful ball gown. Translated: People around us, once we have shown more faith in them, show up for us more powerfully than we had thought them capable; a job we had thought beneath us, once we throw our creativity into it, becomes the vehicle for great success, our lack in some area, once changed from a source of complaint to a source of thanksgiving for what we do have, turns into a source of joy... Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother worked with what was there: She didn’t call a car service and order up a limo. She didn’t call Saks Fifth Avenue and say ‘Bring me over something gorgeous’. Rather, she surrounded what was already there with the illumination and divine understanding, and what already existed then miraculously transformed.” 

These simple yet profound words that Williamson offers are written in such a way that what we once may have already known in some *other* way is now articulated beautifully and serves as a much needed reminder. 

This being the first book I’ve read by Williamson (she has written many others, including a brand new book titled “From Tears To Triumph”), I very much appreciated her unique and respectful take on organized religion. She explains that religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism have many similar symbolic meanings that we can understand, and that we should keep these in mind when we pray. That being said, to Williamson, praying is something that we all must do, in whatever form each individual wants to do so. The book is interspersed with her own prayers that may be used as examples. Here is one on jobs and working:

“Dear God,
I surrender to you my work.
May I be who you would have me be,
That I might do as you would have me do.
May my relationships be blessed,
With those for whom I work
And with those who work for me. 
May Your light be upon us
As we do our work
And may our work
Be Yours.
Amen.”

Much of the philosophy presented in “Everyday Grace: Having Hope, Finding Forgiveness, and Making Miracles” is about the interconnectedness of all souls on Earth, even those who we might completely disagree with. She asks that we see absolutely everyone, though they may slight us or even hurt us, as divine beings like angels with a shared innocence. Moreover, Williamson’s idea that personality is an illusion, is actually a great “tactic” (for lack of a better word), to see past what we conceive as faults in other persons. 

This book is organized into three parts: “Part I: Thoughts Of Grace”, “Part II: A Day Of Grace”, and “Part III: A Life Of Grace”. Part I explains what “mystical wands” are and how to use them. A simple understanding of this is that we can all use our hypothetical magical “wand” by focusing our energy on positivity (miracles *do* happen, angels *are* real). Part II is divided up for each hour of the day starting from 8:00 am through 8:00 pm. She addresses issues such as jealousy, boredom and guilt, and also, finally and throughout, sheds light on what it means to have compassion. Part III is a more general expose on life itself, and is a phenomenal conclusion that focuses on things we do that are taken for granted by going through the motions. For example, marriage is not about the fancy gown, it’s the sacrament that we must always be thinking of, first and foremost. 

I recommend this book to anyone who needs a little push as they live their lives, a push to be happier each day and more patient as trials come all the time. This book has changed parts of me for the better, and I think it will be the same for those who seek to be healed.