The Unfinished Gift by Dan Walsh

Enjoy the excerpt below:




Here is my review of this wonderfully touching Christmas story:

First of all, I would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to Dan Walsh and his publisher for sending me a copy of "The Unfinished Gift" to review for them. I have always been grateful for this generosity, and I am trying to improve at being consistent in taking the time to thank these wonderfully giving individuals in a public forum. I really appreciate your time, effort and expense in making a reviewer copy available to me.

“The Unfinished Gift” by Dan Walsh is a thoughtful and deeply touching read that I am proud to add to my Christmas reading shelf. This is an unconventional Christmas story set during World War II, a father whose son is serving the nation as a soldier is caring for his grandson in the boy’s father’s absence. I’ve only just begun reading this book, and although I could easily digest the flowing commentary very quickly, I am forcing myself to slow down and really savor the tale. It’s not that the story isn’t engaging. It’s that this explains certain aspects of my own family to me. Young Patrick represents my Mother’s generation and Ian, my Great-Grandfather’s. My Grandfather fought in WWII, and though my Mom was not Patrick’s age at the time, she did find herself living with my Grandma and Great-Grandparents while Granddaddy was away.

This story is bringing me tearful insight into the thoughts and feelings of those generations. I am learning to appreciate many things about my own family’s history. But my only regret is that I no longer have my Great-Grandparents around to answer questions while I read. However, I will certainly be talking to my Grandmother about this book!

I am also completely floored that not only is Dan Walsh a wonderful novelist, he is the senior pastor of a church! Where did he find the time to put these words to paper? I suppose he is the poster child for the verse: “I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength.”