Sue Monk Kidd is an excellent fictional writer, so I was surprised to find how many books she has on her spirtual journey. This one is excellent, simple and with much meaning for every day life.

I gave this book to my mom years ago - it still had the bookmark I made for her tucked in the pages. Kidd’s prose that detail her observations about life touch my heart. I enjoyed the essay about helping her son pack for college - and the ones about the difficulties in parenting. She is one of my favorite authors.

Spiritual and lovely

This is a wonderful little book that can be read in short doses or all at once. Spirituaity is a favorite theme for my reading and Kidd's lovely prose taken from her early writings did not disappoint. This is not a book of theology, but a book about a young woman searching for meaning and a real relationship with God and creation.

The author opens her life, and offers an almost poetic way of portraying life's moments. Makes you want to find precious gems in your life that you may be overlooking every day.

As a fan of SMK, I kept marvelling at the depth of her wisdom and insights at such an early age. The best part of the book is that she moves the reader to the kernel of each vignette quickly, and it usually delivers a satisfying shift interiorly, like a knowing look from a friend. A perfect snuggle book at the end of a day or when you need a shift in attitude.

This book is made of little vignettes grouped into various religious themes. It is the type of book that is good to dip into and read a small bit at a time. Many are reflections on her family. Others concern her time as a nurse. I enjoyed it but I am not sure I will remember many of them.

This book was a delightful read. Each chapter covers a philosphical or religious concept. Ms. Kidd orginally wrote the essays in this book for GuidePost magazine. I marked my favorite passages to reread, and I almost NEVER do that.
I would recommend this book as a gift for anyone at any stage of life.

I borrowed this from my mom and I'm not sure I want to give it back. I find Kidd's spiritual writing to be moving, on target and very helpful. I want to sit down with her and have a long conversation. She is so honest about where she is in her life - I want to be that honest. I also wish I could write like Monk.

These essays were mostly published in Guideposts long before Monk became a famous novelist. She has gone back and edited them a bit, but it appears Monk has always been a good writer.

She covers 13 topics including grace, silence and compassion. I know that I will be revisiting this book for more inspiration.

This book is a warm blanket in which I wanted to wrap myself, a house in which I wanted to dwell. It's safe and comfortable and perfect for a winter's eve by the fire. It's the right balance of story and moral (though, beware, every story she tells has deeper meaning than what you see on the surface, so if you're not into that sort of thing...). It's the right balance of telling and inspiring insight, and makes me feel like I'm learning life's lessons alongside the author. It also inspires me to write more, much like Madeleine L'Engle's writings do for me.

Having read Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, I wasn't sure what to expect in her memoir, but I read it after a friend gifted me with it and was delighted by its beautiful prose. The book not only gave me insight into Kidd's personal life as she grew up in the South where she raised a family, worked as a nurse, found a personal connection to her Christian values, and became an award winning writer, but it made me reflect on the things that truly matter. Firstlight is heart warming and inspirational. One I recommend to fellow writers and friends alike.

I picked this up because I love Sue Monk Kidd's later works and thought I might get some enjoyment out of reading a writer's earlier works, but it mainly focuses on her relationship with her husband, kids and God, none of which did much for me.