Becoming Gertrude: How Our Friendships Shape Our Faith

Debut author Peterson, writing about her life as the wife of author and pastor Eugene Peterson, captures the subtle nuances of developing faith-filled friendships in this helpful guide. In five brief chapters, she relates the core actions she believes are necessary for sustainable friendship—caring, acceptance, service, hospitality, and encouragement—and explains how she developed her understanding of each, relating anecdotes of church members, family, and strangers. For instance, she tells of volunteering at a food bank (caring), taking a weekend vow of silence with her husband (acceptance), and hosting people in her home when moving to a new city or congregation (hospitality). Readers of Peterson’s husband’s work will appreciate the tidbits about him, as a pastor and as a communicative partner in a healthy marriage. End-of-chapter questions highlight and sum up the material. Filled with levity and gentle admonitions, Peterson’s work is a nice compilation of simple steps for growing and deepening friendships. (Nov.)