Come Back, Barbara

This book will mostly appeal to those in the Christian community. While that is good it is also unfortunate. The wisdom from the journey both parent and child take is there for all. If your struggles as a parent find you reading this review and considering this book please know that it helped me. I can’t say anything stronger than that. May you find peace in the future and I wish you well. Thanks for reading.

This was such an eye opening account of what was going through Barbara's mind throughout this process. Also, how God matured her parents as well as her (as He does). This has given me new ways to pray for my prodigal as well as myself. Humility, forgiveness, love and reconciliation and most of all Jesus. Thank you, Lord!

This is one book that I have long wanted to read, but almost had that "Christmas morning"-type of anticipation about reading it. I knew the author, and even was with him and his wife during events that are relayed in the book. But, my fears were, 'what if I DON'T like it?', 'what if I find it dated and irrelevent'? His other books are great, but those were not written with his daughter. Long story short, this is a well written, thoughtful, practical book that has one unique feature... it's written in a very open and vulnerable fashion. It's not preachy nor does it give you step by step fix-it instructions to handle rebellious children. But it's very real and instructive in a way that takes into account that, in Christ, we all must walk by faith. There is no quick fix, easy road, magic formula... but it doesn't then follow that this walk (being a faithful and effective parent to an unbelieving child) is woeful. It's long, hard work, but when we as Christian parents think we have all the right answers, the walk WILL be woeful. This is Jack Miller and his daughter, Barbara's story, written in a great format (he tells his part of their story through a period of time, then she tells hers, so on, and so forth until the end of the book) that is encouraging and REAL! I bought two copies (one to read and one to share) and I'm only sorry that I didn't buy more. As I look around my church, there is hardly one family who is untouched by similar circumstances found in this book(to one degree or another). You see? Relevant!

I cannot possibly recommend a book more highly for "parents in pain," i.e. parents whose children are now older and may have "bolted" from the flock (whether they are still at home or have left the "nest" as well as the faith). For parents whose children remain in the "far country" still unreconciled to their Father - the "Father of spirits) (and their earthly parents as well), this excellent foray into the life of one rebellious teen (Barbara) is very biblically oriented and therefore exceedingly helpful in learning to respond in godly ways to children who may have begun to tred some dangerous paths. There are no pat answers - C. John Miller will be the first to affirm this . . . but there are biblical directions, biblical prayer, biblical postures that parents can take toward their children who have, to one degree or another, rejected their parents faith. Miller is correct: the process of seeing our children return from the far country is an adventure. And God is just as interested in rescuing the parents (from their natural but harmful sense of and supposed need for control, among other sinful behavior patterns) as He is the wayward children. I would recommend this book to every parent who is struggling with the issue of their child resisting their godly shaping influences - even if they have not actually left with their "Father's inheritance" to squander it in riotous livingHoward Eames, Kansas City, MissouriMore about me [...]

Barbara is the daughter of Jack Miller, a highly visible evangelical Christian evangelist and pastor. As a teenager, she announced her ardent decision that she would not be a Christian like her father and her mother, Rose Marie. In this book, Jack chronicles his anguish and conflicted feelings about how to love his daughter and his desire that she experience the love of his God. There were tenuous times such as when she chose to live with a dangerous and controlling drug dealer. An especially interesting feature of this book is that it include a note at the end of each chapter in which Barbara herself related how she recalled the events of the chapter. Her recollections are often not the same as Jack's.Recommended for evangelical Christian parents of teenagers.

Rarely do I find a book that has made more of a difference in my life than this one. I have a Barbara in my life right now and it’s as if the writers are telling our story! Learning from what they experienced and growing as a result has been precious. If you have a prodigal in your life, this is well worth the 10 bucks and couple hours it takes to read. 10 out of 10!!!

I would recommend this book to all parents going through a trial with their child. I would also recommend it to parents who have young children and have not gone through a trial as yet! This book is written from a hurting parent who has not held anything back, he has shown his heart and been so honest about his mistakes, his hurts and about a love so great it breaks your heart. He can truly say he loved his daughter all the way into heaven!! As one chapter is written by the father and then one chapter is written by the daughter etc. you get to see how differently they perceived the same situation. We all make the same mistakes and these mistakes can be avoided. If, however, you end up where they were this book will definitely give you a way in which to reconnect and go forward together. Great read!!!

Excellent book. I liked the way alternating chapters are written by father and daughter, telling the story from both sides. Gives good insight into how to treat adult children as we pray and wait for them to come to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, and also helps us understand how God uses the waiting period to expose and deal with things in our own hearts as parents.

All good

This is a very interesting book. and deals with the subject matter in a clear and sensitive way. I think this book will be a big help to many people

An excellent book for Christian parents who may have a member of their family who has gone right away from the Lord or anything to do with the Christian faith.

Very helpful read. Wish I had read it 30 years ago.