My Happy Heart: Prayer of the Heart

by Gregory Ryan

To many of us the God of our childhood was angry and punishing, watching and keeping record of all we did. My Happy Heart reminds children and the child in all of us - that God is a loving God and we... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0966694198
• ISBN13: 9780966694192
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Medio Media
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 3

Customer Reviews

A delight! Simple and profound.

Gregory Ryan's book, My Happy Heart, makes the ancient and profound tradition of Prayer of the Heart accessible to both children and adults. The charming illustrations and the author's clear, simple words lead the reader to his/her heart (the center of one's being) in a gentle, almost imperceptible, way.The text is free of sentimental or pretentious words and therefore communicates directly from heart to heart. The child in me was deeply touched by this gem of a book.

My Happy Heart and the building of peace

..."A Happy Heart", by Greg Ryan, Obl. OSB, is a good read. Adults, too, will learn to become simple and prayerful. It is a delightful book and beautifully illustrated.It was introduced recently at a domestic violence shelter where children and their mothers stay and learn for an extended period of time. You would think that meditation would be especially difficult for children of abuse, but the opposite proved true. The children took to contemplative prayer like ducks to water. Later that same day, the children asked if they could pray with their hearts at night; if they could pray with their hearts sitting on their beds, or on their floors. I am thankful to Greg Ryan for putting in print this "how to" for children and families in an inviting way. Families will truly be helping to build a world of peaceful citizens by reading this book together and establishing their own family's practice of prayer.

***MUST READ***

"My Happy Heart" is an inventive, creative and spiritual manual for children (and their parents) who are looking to find inner peace. The colorful illustrations are accompanied by lyrical text which leads the reader on a wonderful journey. A great gift for First Penance/Reconciliation or First Holy Communion, "My Happy Heart" will delight and inspire your child to achieve inner peace and a closer relationship with God. I highly recommend this book!

Very highly recommended

Author Gregory Ryan brings the ability to pray and meditate to the level of young children in MY HAPPY HEART: PRAYER OF THE HEART. Full 4 color cartoon illustrations reinforce the message of love for family and for Jesus. Simple repetition of phrases and words prepare children for their own quite time.Gentle affirmations of love and peace with the underlying repetition of the name of Jesus teach young children life long skills for slowing in a fast paced, tension-filled world. Indeed, adults will likewise benefit from the simple meditation skills they learn along with the young reader. Extra information for parents and teachers is included at the end regarding the history of mediation, how to meditate, and how to teach children to meditate. Very highly recommended.

A wonderful book for children!

This book offers families a simple and loving way to learn how to meditate to together. While the illustrations and text are clearly for the young reader, the message is appropriate for all ages. I especially enjoyed the deeper discussion of Christian meditation for adults in the back of the book. Mr. Ryan clearly has a deep understanding of both young children and meditation...and it shows!