The Unfinished Gift by Dan Walsh - REVIEWED

The Unfinished Gift by Dan Walsh is a tender story of family, friendship and forgiveness. Set in WWII, this story focuses on seven-year-old Patrick Collins and his grandfather Ian. Both have suffered heartbreaking loss, but neither of them have ever met prior to the tragedy that brings them together. Ian bears a lifetime of bitterness in his heart toward Patrick’s father, so he struggles with the ability to reach out to the child who has already experienced as much heartache as his grandfather. As these two struggle to come together the Lord begins to introduce people and circumstances into their lives that enable them to look beyond their pain and recognize each other and their need for relationship. However, the path they must travel to reach this point is one that is darker than either of them feel able to survive.

Dan Walsh has written a classic Christmas story that has a very old-fashioned feel to it. The characters, while very needy in many ways, are people that find their way into your heart, and you can’t help but ache for them as they experience many circumstances unique to the families who survived WWII. I love the fact that Patrick is so determined in his desire to please his grandfather, but there were several times I just wanted to shake his grandfather for not being able to recognize what a precious gift he had found in his grandson. Toward the end, I was really anxious for all of the characters in the story, because I so wanted them to discover the true gift of Christmas without facing any further heartache. WWII was a very uncertain time though, and Walsh portrays this uncertainty very vividly within the story.

The Unfinished Gift represents pieces of everyone’s lives to me. Many people hang on to past hurts with such an unforgiving heart that they often miss out of some of life’s greatest treasures. Along the way, other, innocent lives are often hurt just as badly because they must suffer the consequences of shattered relationships. I’m so thankful that God is always working in hearts and lives and redeeming these broken families. Walsh doesn’t sugar coat the pain that surrounds these stories of redemption, but he brilliantly displays God’s sovereign hand at work in some of life’s most painful circumstances.

The Unfinished Gift is a beautiful story that will linger in your heart long after the holiday season has passed. This is going to be a classic Christmas story that you will want to add to your holiday traditions year after year!

Pick up your copy HERE today! This would make a great holiday gift, so pick up an extra copy to share!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dan Walsh is the senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, a church he helped found 23 years ago. He is the author of The Unfinished Gift and lives with his family in the Daytona Beach area