Rest Ministries Comfort Zone Bookstore Rest Ministries Category:  Health/Wellness Publisher: Rest Ministries Publishers ISBN-10:  0971660069 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 94 Copyright: June 1, 2005 ISBN-13: 9780971660069 When you want to reach out to someone who is ill or hurting, where do you start? This book provided 505 specific examples. We all want to help people but we don't know where to start. We hear others who want to reach out to us, or other chronically ill friends, but they make simple offers that we never feel comfortable accepting. This book is a wonderful way to give people ideas to be creative, approachable, and a great friend. It also teaches a person how to allow an ill friend to be independent and respected, yet still give her/him hope that may be needed. I wrote this book so that churches, counselors and individuals would have something concrete to grab and get ideas when they hear about someone who is hurting and want to reach out.   Excerpt Understand that she lives in a constant state of making decisions for which there is no guarantee that she is making the right choice. (#2) Don't make a person into a project. (#6) Ask, "What do you wish people understood about your illness?" (#13) Ask her to do spontaneous things, like go to a concert in the park, or just for a picnic. She may be more likely to participate since she knows if it's a good day or a bad day. (#22) Don't tell her about your brother's niece's cousin's best friend who tried a cure for the same illness and... (you know the rest). (#30) Don't wear perfume around her, especially if you know it can cause a reaction. (#126) Tell her what you've learned from her. (#193) Buy her a colorful flag for her patio. (#213) A charm bracelet makes a fun gift. You can add charms to celebrate events in her life that symbolize hope, survival, joy, and celebrations. (#257) Clip cartoons that will make her smile. (#304) When you visit, leave behind a little gift or note for her to find later. (#446) Make a soup basket with mugs, bowls, soups, crackers, and a note that says, "Your strength just bowls me over!" (#464)

Clever, helpful, fun, and uplifting
"Beyond Casseroles" is clever, helpful, fun, and uplifting. You can use it to get ideas yourself, to give someone else a glimpse at what living with a chronic illness can be like, or as a gift. It could also give someone who has a chronic illness some ideas for keeping themselves more cheerful. All in all, an excellent little package. Terri Roberts, About.com Headaches and Migraines