Walking with Henry: Big Lessons from a Little Donkey on Faith, Friendship, and Finding Your Path

If you are looking to change your walk with the Lord, this book is a fabulous, inspirational story of a new season of growing closer to the Lord. The author uses the practice of prayer walking with an adorable miniature donkey named Henry. Okay, most of us don’t have donkeys or even a dog. Where there is a will, there is a way, and there are suggestions in the book regarding prayer walking. Donkeys are social creatures; without companionship of another donkey or a horse, they can get depressed, sick, or even destructive. The author and her husband already have a donkey, Flash, who inspired an earlier book called “Flash: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me about Life, Faith, and Second Chances”. Rachel Anne Ridge felt it was time for Flash, who had wandered into their yard seven years earlier, to have a companion. She talked with Doctor David Dunkin, who works at a donkey rescue in San Angelo, Texas. He found a donkey that was taken in with a group of 20 strays and named simply Henderson #10 after the county he was rounded up in. He had walked in a recent parade, and Doc felt he would be a good companion for Flash and probably be about the same age. Rachel embarked on a journey, seeking a new dimension of knowing God’s presence in His creation through the timeless prayers of the church. She knew she needed to walk with a donkey and a book of prayers, and in this manner she stepped into the passages of scripture, from Abram to Jesus. I love the analogies of Henry’s behavior and human behavior, especially since I understand walking backwards, lack of trust, anxiety, and getting along with others. Grace. Learning to better understand confessing the things we failed to do, appreciating the Way of Peace, and seeking God’s love. Seeing Jesus through the prayers and walking. There is so much of value in the “Big Lessons from a Little Donkey on Faith, Friendship, and Finding Your Path” (subtitle). The author provides a guide to prayer walking, and in each chapter includes a prayer she focuses on. One of my favorite quotes: “Sometimes we need companionship more than we need instant fixing. We need to know we are not alone, that we have never been alone, and that we will never be alone.” (page 190) Watching the author grow to a new level of faith in the Lord, the sense of the sacred that she sought, has been a privilege; this is a journey one will want to refer to again and again. I enjoyed using it as an additional devotional. I loved “meeting” Henry and seeing his adorable smile in some of the photos. I appreciate the author’s use of the liturgy, the Book of Common Prayer, and prayers used through the centuries, as I now love the liturgy that I once thought so restrictive when I was younger. I also appreciate the author’s insights into scripture, the events of her life, and how each chapter has valuable lessons. I highly recommend Walking with Henry to those who wrestle with their faith, emotions such as anxiety or grief, or are seeking a new depth in their relationship with the Lord, or simply looking at another means of prayer. Thank you, Rachel, Henry, Flash, and Tom for sharing with us! From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this from The Book Club Network; a favorable review was not required.