Micha Boyett's study and gritty application of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount coincided perfectly with my own personal study of the Beatitudes. In Jesus's upside-down kingdom, Micha's son lives and moves among the "blessed"—despite the many challenges autism and Down syndrome pose in the kingdom of this world. Parents and teachers of children with disabilities will find a soulmate and traveling companion in Boyett's vulnerable writing.

More important, however, is the gift of insight she offers to those of us who are laboring under the illusion that perhaps, we can actually soldier our way into a "blessed" life without suffering or weakness of our own. The surprise message is that when we step into our true poverty of spirit and human longing, we find ourselves living the dream of God.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.

A beautiful memoir and celebration of life in the midst of diagnoses and disabilities many will never fully understand. I liked the premise of this, but found myself skimming and less engaged than anticipated.

In Blessed Are the Rest of Us, Micha Boyett looks at the Beatitudes and how meditating on them has impacted the ay she's experienced and thought about her family's life, particularly the life of her autistic youngest son who also has Down syndrome. I loved Boyett's first book, but the most I can say about this one is that it's fine. It's another book about the Beatitudes and while Boyett's perspective may make the book unique among its many peers, very little of what she's saying felt fresh or particularly revelatory.

Blessed Are the Rest of Us is a memoir that flips back and forth through many time periods and circles around Micha's three sons, particularly her oldest and her youngest. I appreciated her story, but was disappointed to find it isn't actually a deep dive on the Beatitudes... it really just uses them as the framework to share her story from receiving Ace's diagnosis to the present day. If it were described and marketed as a memoir, I would bump it up as I would have seen it to better keep the promise of the book... but as others have said, it was unexpected because it doesn't match its description. Still, it's a story worth reading.

Thank you to Net Galley for the copy of Micha Boyett’s soon to be published book, Blessed Are the Rest of Us. I have been encouraged and inspired by Micha’s writing and insights for over a decade, especially excited which she agreed to guest author a post on my blog many years ago. Watching her navigate the birth of her son with Down’s Syndrome was constant lessons and inspiration in real time, so I feel like part of me has really been eagerly awaiting this book for a long time. As always, this book is heartfelt, vulnerable and real. Micha writes with truth and weaves in the Beatitudes in a way that gave that passage of scripture new meaning for me. So thankful for Micha’s prophetic voice, always given with humility and depth.

Thanks to Brazos Press (Baker Publishing) and NetGalley I had the privilege of reading a DRC of Blessed Are the Rest of Us by Micha Boyett. All opinions are my own and I have pre-ordered a hard copy and will be gifting copies of this book for many years. Even though I read the book over a month ago, I’ve waited to review it because I loved it so much that I wanted to treasure my private experience a little longer.

This beautiful book spoke to me more deeply than I have experienced in a very long time. I am not a mother. I do not have close, personal experience with severe disability. In many ways, my life experience has been quite different from that of the author. And that is one reason this book was so special; my favorite books have always been those that open me to worlds beyond my own. Boyett offers a glimpse into her life as the mother of a child with disabilities in a way that feels uncomfortably relatable at times. The honesty with which she shares the struggles and joys and true, hard blessedness of her life allowed me to experience a new level of compassion—with-ness—I hope I can live out in many contexts. It is not her experience itself that wrenched my heart, it is the humanity and humility with which she shares herself and her experiences.

While I appreciated reading about a life experience different than mine, Blessed Are the Rest of Us would be hugely encouraging to people with experiences more similar to Boyett. Especially when religious communities too often exclude, ignore, pity, and even shame people with disabilities, Blessed Are the Rest of Us could be a lifeline to people struggling to feel blessed or beloved or feeling they must defend their child’s worth. I will even recommend this book to my non-religious friends whose children have disabilities, because I think they will be heartened by it. And I will recommend it to every Christian I know, parent or not, because of what Boyett has to teach us all.

This book would have been good, even great, if it had been a straightforward memoir. However, Boyett takes it to another level by framing it with a beautiful theology of the beatitudes. As an aside, I’ve been looking for a good book on the beatitudes for years, and this is the first one I’ve come across that I would feel comfortable reading with a small group serious about spiritual growth. The theology enriches Boyett’s personal story, and her story enriches the theology. Since reading this book not a day has gone by when I haven’t contemplated what it means to be blessed through the layers of theology and life experience Boyett unveiled for me. Instead of cringing at the mere thought of (superficial, privilege-based) blessedness, I am beginning to appreciate the blessings Jesus offered and continues to offer, the blessings for “the rest of us,” the blessings I might even be able to participate in. I was already aware of my privilege in so many areas, and my attendant responsibilities. But I will be forever grateful to Boyett for the image of that privilege as the ease of mostly swimming downstream, and her gracious invitation to choose to swim upstream alongside others.

An interesting read indeed. I requested this book first because it deals with the Beatitudes. I like seeing different Bible books being used to tell a story. Take this book as if it is a memoir. You are being guided through the struggles and appreciation of love while managing Down syndrome. This is open your heart.
I just reviewed Blessed Are the Rest of Us by Micha Boyett. #BlessedAretheRestofUs #NetGalley

Micha Boyett has written a book with an unflinching description of her life with her family including her son with Down’s Syndrome and autism. Along the way she connects her family’s life with the Beatitudes.

This discussion is enlightening and calls us to a more caring and attentive life.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this ARC

I received a free copy of, Blessed Are the Rest of Us, by Micha Boyett, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Micha Boyett son has down syndrome and autism. While this would be hard for any parent, Micha leaned on her faith and the beatitudes, to guide her through. This is a good read, I relearned the beatitudes, all over again.

I abandoned this book early on as it was not appealing to me. I had hoped for more about her experience with spirituality and her son. Instead it seemed to be her personal interpretation of the Bible. It might appeal to Christians. It also might have improved had I read longer but it did not hold my interest and seemed repetitive and opinionated. Again, another reader may have enjoyed it.

This book was a touching memoir with just a touch of 'beatitudes'. Unfortunately I had selected the book to review because I was interested in the topic of the beatitudes, so it didn't hit the mark for me. However, the author is a very talented writer who conveyed her life story and struggle beautifully, almost poetically. Although this book wasn't what I expected, I can see that it would be helpful and inspiring to parents who are dealing with difficult child-rearing.

I enjoyed this a lot! Wasn’t what I expected but was good nonetheless! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc!

Blessed Are the Rest of Us, by Micha Boyett reads more like a memoir than a Christian or Religious tome, and therefore left me a bit disappointed. While her story is beautiful and worthwhile, I was hoping for more of a deep dive into the Beatitudes. I was, however, able to pick helpful information out of some of her analogies and experiences, so that was enjoyable. Otherwise, I skipped through some of it and zeroed mostly in on her biblical interpretations.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-arc. I love the premise and argument of the book but I found myself skim reading.

I have struggled with how to review Micha Boyett's "Blessed Are the Rest of Us: How Limits and Longing Make Us Whole."

I've wrestled. Mightily.

Were my expectations different? This may be partly true.

Does my perspective as an adult with disabilities come into play? Most definitely.

The book sounded very up my alley when I first requested and received my ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy). The book also received praise from two authors whose recommendations I trust and, quite honestly, I wholeheartedly embrace books that at least explore the landscape of theology and disability.

Right there may very well have been my first mistake. It should be noted up front that a good majority of "Blessed Are the Rest of Us" is inspired by the birth of Boyett's son, Ace, with Down Syndrome and eventual diagnosis of Autism, "Blessed Are the Rest of Us" is not at its core a book about Ace or disability.

Instead, "Blessed Are the Rest of Us" is ultimately a book about Boyett herself and how Ace's birth led her toward the ancient teachings of the Beatitudes. This, of course, isn't a bad thing. In fact, at times it's quite moving and inspirational. Despite the fact that I didn't completely resonate with "Blessed Are the Rest of Us," I assure you there will be many who will.

"Blessed Are the Rest of Us" is about how Boyett's turning toward the Beatitudes helped her release so many values embraced by the world - performance, perfection, and strength - in favor of Jesus's call toward meekness, mercy, and justice. Rather than always finding value in her accomplishments, Boyett began embracing her wholeness in God's love.

And yes, Ace, who is present throughout much of "Blessed Are the Rest of Us," helped facilitate that journey as a young child for whom nearly every developmental milestone was missed and whose life expectations are envisioned as less about performance and more about simply being beloved and in beloved community.

Each chapter of "Blessed Are the Rest of Us" centers around one particular beatitude and is typically companioned by Boyett's own life journey. The majority of the time Ace is included, however, this isn't a book about Ace or disability or disability theology. There are chapters where the focus is elsewhere, from a discussion of Boyett's other two children (Brooks and August) to a discussion around LGBT inclusion among others.

The subtitle of "Blessed Are the Rest of Us" is perhaps most indicative of what to expect from this literary journey. Those who are exhausted, overworked, drowning in performance expectations, or simply anxiety ridden will find much to love here and will likely be who most appreciates Boyett's work here. Parents of children with disabilities will also appreciate Boyett's gentle and compassionate weaving of a tapestry of faith that embraces those who perform at a different standard and, yes, those who may never be able to have their lives measured by performance standards.

As an adult with a disability, one with came with significant limitations that I have largely surpassed, I must confess that I at times struggled with "Blessed Are the Rest of Us." At times, it seems to cross the line into what the late disabled comic called "inspiration porn," a term she coined to symbolize material perceived as objectifying disabled people for the benefit or gratification of the able-bodied. Is this constant? Heavens no. Is it intentional? Absolutely not. However, I sometimes felt like I was seeing Ace through the lens of his mother rather than through the lens of Ace.

There's a difference and I think Boyett understands this because there are also times "Blessed Are the Rest of Us" nails it.

Disability and theology are difficult to write about, in fact while it seemed somewhat an outlier my favorite chapter in the book involved the LGBT discussions, as far too often these discussions can turn into affirming weakness rather than affirming the human being. Even the title, for me, somewhat "others" Ace - "Blessed Are the Rest of Us?"

There's so much more I could write about. Ultimately, I have a unique perspective that won't likely impact most readers, though certainly it's a valid perspective. It's not often that I contemplate my review for quite some time before writing, however, I really wanted to reflect on my response to the book.

While "Blessed Are the Rest of Us" may not have ultimately landed for me as well as I'd expected, for those seeking a poetic and tender exploration of the Beatitudes in a world that often emphasizes quite the opposite this may prove to be a valuable read.