Grace, Gratitude & Generosity

When Jane McBride's column first appeared in The Beaumont Enterprise on Father's Day, 1992, it was called "Just Plain Jane." Through the years, family, friends and fans learned that Jane's words were neither "plain" nor "just" anything.From her Arkansas childhood with her beloved grandmother to her role as wife, mother and grandmother, Jane's weekly column captured ordinary moments in extraordinary ways, allowing readers to view their own lives through honest and heartfelt words on the pages of their newspaper. These essays, taken from more than 17 years of newspaper archives, explore stories of love, life and loss in her personal quest to live a life of grace, gratitude and generosity, not in spite of her experiences, but because of them. Through the years, the column's popularity resulted in many inquiries, always the same: "When are you going to publish a book of favorites?" This collection fulfills those requests. Some of the columns will make the reader laugh - others might bring tears - but one thing is certain - Jane's words are sure to make a difference in the life of everyone who takes the time to follow her journey.