Box of Butterflies

January 8, 2018
Downey, the Emmy-nominated actress from Touched by an Angel and producer of films such as Little Boy and Ben-Hur, inspires in this quote-filled book of reflections. She poignantly tells of her mother’s death when she was 10 years old and how butterflies became a natural reminder of her mother’s love: at the grave, Downey recalls a butterfly floating by and her father commenting, “Would you look at that? That wee butterfly could be your mother’s spirit.” Between quotes from such diverse voices as Leonard Cohen, Regina King, C.S. Lewis, Max Lucado, and Nelson Mandela, Downey shares spiritually affirming moments from her film career. One highlight is her relationship with Della Reese throughout the filming of Touched by an Angel. Downey recounts the moment—a few months after Reese’s daughter’s sudden death—when they shared a conversation about the goodness of God: “I didn’t know He was bringing you into my life because I was gonna need a baby girl.” Christian readers will appreciate Downey’s resilient attitude toward the trials of life, as well as her deep faith in God, especially during difficult times. What comfort she finds in God, she graciously passes on to others in this touching book.

November 15, 2017
Downey, who played angel Monica in the beloved series Touched by an Angel and, along with her husband, Mark Burnett, is the producer of such inspirational shows as Women of the Bible and A.D. the Bible Continues, offers readers a minibiography interlaced with her personal insights, pieces of Scripture, and poetry. Born in Northern Ireland, she lost her mother at an early age and her father as a young adult. Butterflies became a symbol to her, and they flutter through this book, both in the text and the watercolor illustrations. Her fans will enjoy stories about her TV shows, especially Touched by an Angel, and about the important relationship she forged with costar Della Reese. God infuses her narrative and seems to be present everywhere she turns. Some readers may wonder how God is so available to her, providing everything from roles to her husband, when others travel a less-amenable road, but her message is that no matter how dark life feels, He is always there to guide us, comfort us, and it's certainly true that faith and gratitude suffuse her stories.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)