An Open Heart: The Power to Forgive

An Open Heart: The Power to Forgive is the third book in a riveting trilogy written by Muriel Kennedy, a licensed clinical psychologist. While the first book, Heart and Soul: Learning to Communicate Through Thick and Thin, capitalizes on the relationship Jamaal, a young adolescent, shares with his mother and grandmother, the second book, Speak to My Heart: Each One...Reach One, focuses on peer influence, and Jamal's affiliation with Trevon, his best friend. The current text, An Open Heart: The Power to Forgive, introduces the reader to Jamaal's father, who battles with the fear of being rejected when he finally musters up the courage to make contact with his ex-wife after four years of silence. Interested in making up for lost time, he hopes she will receive his call and provide him with the opportunity to get to know his son. An Open Heart is captivating, educational, and instructive in nature, and the reader will find they can easily relate to many of the situations and experiences that are presented and explored. As a powerful teaching tool, the books in the trilogy provide discussion questions at the end of each chapter, which are designed to encourage communication and motivate parents to apply the many lessons learned. The Jamaal series parallels the lives of the young people and families the author was blessed to work with, and as a devout Christian, she hopes parents will be emotionally inspired to reunite with their children, no matter the age, as love is extended and forgiveness received, both in spirit and in truth. This trilogy is enlightening, easy-to-read, and will hopefully trigger feelings of love, and subsequently heal, transform, and enhance many lives. The books are also a valuable resource and a must-read for teachers, mentors, and professional counselors who work with children, youth, and families.