[.ca] Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy! (ISBN 0849944791)

spoke to my heart:
This book was referred to me by a friend because of a family crisis. I'm not quite finished reading it, but already it has spoken to my heart. Every emotion and feeling I have had since my daughter announced she might be gay has been addressed in this book. It feels so good to know that someone has felt this exact same way and that God does grant peace. I know I will re-read this book many times (after I pass it along to my husband and other daughter). I just wish I knew how to get on her mailing list for SPATULA.

The Turning Point for Me:
In 1991, I had been depressed 7 out of every 10 years for the last 30 years and was grieving for my lost business that was a 1987 stockmarket "correction" casualty. Depression was a way of life for me, though, so that business loss wasn't much worse than what I'd been through before, only this time I read Barbara's book and decided that, if she had faced adversities far beyond mine and could find things to be grateful for, I could pick myself up and find out what was left of my life. I could "Put a Geranium in My Hat" and determine that misery was not going to be my option. I praise Barbara for not condoning her child's choices, but upholding scripture and giving him the anchor of a mother who believes what she says she believes. Now I'm a widow and Barbara's life story set the example for tending my husband for 3 years and for turning to God in all circumstances. Nobody said it would be easy but God is with us. Keep it up, Barbara! See you at the town dump tonight!

Help for the Weary:
I have read and re-read this book many times during my husband's fight with cancer and his recent death. So many things have happened to my family but when I need guidance and uplifting spirit I can find it in one of Barbara's books. Thank you and keep on writing!

Harmful to Reconciliation:
Barbara Johnson is clearly a loving, honest person who wants to help others. However, based on the attitudes in "Stick a Geranium in Your Hat" I suspect she has hurt countless people and torn apart numerous families. Mrs. Johnson's son loved someone she didn't approve of and she wished him dead. He was a good boy who cared for others, did well in school, and made her proud...until she learned of his "crime." Perhaps she and I simply have differing beliefs, but I find it hard to understand how a woman who professes so much love and says she believes in a loving god can be so judgemental and harsh. I think of all the people who turned to her during difficult times. Instead of helping them truly love and accept their children, she preached "unconditional love" that had a pretty big condition on it--you believe and practice as I do or you are a horrible sinner that is acting against God. Despite my shock at so much judgmentalness against a good person, I did find some value in her attitudes about feeling your pain and still finding joy in life. However, those thoughts were so overwhelmed by her treatment of her son and other gays that the book wasn't worth it. If you are having difficulty accepting someone's homosexuality, this book will not help you have a loving, respectful relationship with that person. This book will tear apart your family. This book may help you feel justified in your anti-gay beliefs, but you will lose your child or loved one if you accept the author's bias.

Great Book!!:
This book is very encouraging and talks about viewing life with a sense of humor. She talks about Joy and Cheer and finding happiness in tough tough times. She obviously has a big heart! You will be encouraged and find joy in reading this book.