Book Review: “How A Gray Seed Became A Peace Lily” by Karen Raffa
by ReadersMagnet | July 18, 2025 | Book Review | 0 Comments
Throughout the years, there have been a lot of heartfelt and incredibly written books that help people process their grief. Karen Raffa and her story, How A Gray Seed Became A Peace Lily, is no exception.
Karen is also the selected winner of the RMazing Bonanza Season 14 Level 1. Hence, this review will go into just a bit more detail as to what makes this book particularly engaging, even while it shares a vulnerable, painful story about loss (and the miracles that happened in Karen’s life that turned it around).
One thing is for sure, though. The book can be another wonderful tool for those grieving the passing of a very close loved one. Even within the first chapter, Karen’s detailed account of her own emotional roller-coaster is a very sympathetic read for anyone who might find themselves in the same situation. But more importantly, it is also another great read for those who find encouragement in stories about faith overcoming spiritual and mental burdens.
Describing the Loss of a Dear Spouse
From her own perspective, Karen does not really see herself as a great writer. Still, there is a free-flowing honesty in the way she describes the worst news she has ever received in her life.
It started in 2016, when her spouse of 31 years had passed away right in front of her. Her name was Shirl. She was a very kind, giving person who loved animals. Throughout all their time together, she was the one who took care of things at home while Karen was off to work.
Sadly, in July of that year, Shirl was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. And despite a month of Karen opting for both chemo and radiation, they simply couldn’t save her.
The first chapters of the book spare no detail about how Karen brought Shirl home during what eventually came to be the last weeks of her spouse’s life.
These difficult chapters would set the stage for the many trials to come, as well as provide further background into Karen’s own history of depression and other mental health struggles. Shirl wouldn’t be the only loved one that she’d lose within a three-year period.
Many of the chapters vividly describe the toll it took on her as she went to plan for her spouse’s funeral and then attend a few more besides. Without hesitation, Karen admits to the many thoughts of suicide and despair that hounded her through those years.
Still, the seed of hope would eventually sprout through a series of powerful spiritual experiences as well as little miracles along the way. This ‘spiritual awakening,’ as she called it, was thanks to the hand of Jesus, who she credits for letting her hear the voice of her loved ones, essentially telling her all will be well.
Seeing Hope in the Smallest Things and Carrying On
Karen’s journey of faith certainly wasn’t straight and smooth. At the start, she wasn’t quite sure how to go about expanding her spiritual life. Yet with each little, honest attempt, she would end up experiencing signs that pointed her to act in ways that eventually solved a lot of the issues she struggled with (including not only challenges for her mental health, but even financial and household problems too).
All of this was to simply show just how transformative faith has been during the most difficult period of her life. In fact, she does not even tell readers to go to church, but simply start reading the Bible and learn a little bit more about the one who gave her the grace to embrace life again.Want to grab a copy? Karen Raffa’s How a Gray Seed Became a Peace Lily is already available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ReadersMagnet Bookstore.
