When Grandma Looked at the Moon
A Memoir of Generations, Faith, and Life
- History & Biography
- Publisher: Resource Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2025
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Publisher's Description
A personal and poignant account of Mary Katherine Hom-Smith’s relationship with her grandmother during the end stages of life, When Grandma Looked at the Moon traces through its narrative the process of grief and healing for a close-knit family of faith and the friends who came alongside them. Woven throughout this season are the travels and unusual circumstances of the author, who found herself on her own internal journey of exploring aspects of Christian practice—particularly in the area of healing—and the crystallization of her own values through the challenges and opportunities of life. As the moon, sun, and stars appear frequently, inspiring their viewers and reminding the family of both their Creator and each other, Hom-Smith’s grasp of how God may surprise and grace even difficult times grows as well.
Endorsements (6)
“Your project to write the remembrance of your grandmother has much more importance than you will ever know.”
“I was quickly drawn into the story and the touching life-long devotion of the author’s family members to each other and their sustaining faith. Their solid foundation of love and commitment surfaces as they prioritize their lives for the end-of-life journey of the two matriarchs. A special gift emerges and surprises the author when she makes personal sacrifices to care for her mother.”
“It is a rare gift for someone to be so intellectually gifted and so emotionally vulnerable. Through this story, Mary will take you through beauty, discovery, fear, and grief. It is a beautiful and stirring work.”
“In the refreshingly frank style of Corrie Ten Boom’s inner dialogue, Mary Katherine Hom-Smith’s travelogue carries us through her phases of maturing in Christ. In the particulars of her story, we learn general truths about generational faithfulness to God, dependence on the real and convincing work of the Holy Spirit, and familial belonging within the catholic community of Christ. Mary Katherine serves a rich portion of theological reflections through the particulars of her family’s story. Let the reader feast.”
“Mary’s book, When Grandma Looked at the Moon, offers a tender glimpse into three generations of women bound by profound love. Their connection—from sharing quiet moments in Yosemite, to her grandmother’s faithful prayer during Mary’s mission trips—transcends generations and geography. Learning about their relationship, I was moved by how Mary cared for her grandmother in her final chapters, reminding us that sometimes the greatest adventure is coming home to those who matter most.”
“Hom-Smith’s heartfelt narrative weaves two powerful threads. First, it blends a deeply personal journey of faith and grief with inspiring accounts of travel and service. Second, through the author’s experience accompanying her mother and grandmother in their final stages of life, readers are invited into a moving story of familial love and sisterhood in Christ, along with a powerful testimony of three generations of women led by the Spirit. A must-read, profoundly moving, and spiritually enriching.”
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