Dennis, Sheila, and Matt Linn have given retreats and seminars on processes for healing in more than 50 countries and in many universities and hospitals. Dennis and Matt are co-authors of 21 books, the last 16 also written with Sheila. This religious children's book presents a spiritual practice that kids can use each day to add richness and meaning to their lives. It makes it clear that true wealth and happiness do not come from possessions or fame but from the treasures of the heart.
Rachel's grandmother shows her how to make bread that fills the stomach and also how to make another kind of bread — heart bread. When she was a girl, she was separated from her family during World War II and ending up in a refugee camp. The children were so afraid of not having enough food to eat that they couldn't sleep. One of the adults came up with the idea of giving them bread to hold close to their bodies through the night until they were no longer scared. "Heart-bread had turned the scared place in our hearts into a safe place in our hearts."
After telling this story, Rachel's grandmother suggests that every night she recall the times during the day when she felt blessed or did something good for another person. These special times are the ingredients of heart-bread and they will fill up her heart. And then, even if she remembers sad times, she will know she is loved and can sleep peacefully.
The Linns make this into a spiritual practice. Each evening, put your hand on your heart and ask, "What was my most favorite time today?" Then share that positive memory with a parent or sibling:
"Let your heart fill up with your favorite times from the day. Keep your hand on your heart and rub it gently, as if you were patting your teddy bear or rubbing your dog's tummy. Feel the warm feeling in your heart. Now you have made heart-bread.
"Let the warm feeling fill up your whole body. Take a deep breath and send it down your legs and out your arms and up to the top of your head. When it gets to the tips of your toes and the end of your nose, wiggle them."
Children can also remember the least favorite time of the day when they were sad or mad or scared. This can also be turned into heart-bread by asking loved ones to help them care for those feelings. In "A Note to Parents" at the end of the book, the authors explain that in Ignatian spirituality, this process is known as "the examen."
