Category: books, literature, arts

Aching Joy- a book review

Jason Hague’s memoir “Aching Joy” explores faith, fatherhood, and autism through the lens of his son’s diagnosis. Despite initial denial and shaken faith, Hague finds solace in trusting a higher power. The book is a powerful journey through grief, hope, and ultimately, faith in the face of unexpected challenges.

updated March 4, 2024

In his memoir Aching Joy Jason Hague “writes and speaks about the intersection of faith, fatherhood, and autism”.

(In exchange for reviewing books for Tyndale House Publishers  I received a free copy. This post also contains affiliate links.) 

Aching Joy Book Promo 

Autism and Aching Joy

Jason Hague writes about his autistic son Jack’s diagnosis, therapy, and progress, but that is not the focus of this book.

(As Jason does in the book I will use the term “autistic” rather than “with autism”.)

Parents of autistic children often become focused on learning about autism, seeking treatments and services for the child, and celebrating any progress, victory, or achievement no matter how small.

Jason didn’t do that when first confronted with Jack’s diagnosis of autism. In denial of what the doctors said and other family members recognized, he grieved over what he saw as the death of the father-son relationship he had dreamed of.

Perhaps worst of all, his faith in an all-powerful loving God was shaken as it had never been before. Considering that Jason is a pastor, that was a crisis. 

Aching Joy is the story of Jason, and how he found his way back through the Land of Unanswered Prayer.


This is a book about the treasures I found in my darkness and the greatest of all was this: aching joy.  The Lord taught me how to sigh in pain,  how to weep in gladness,  and how to trust during days of hope deferred.

It was not an easy road to walk.  It still isn’t easy and it isn’t safe. Rather it is a confounding country full of myths and mirages. us here faith resembles denial settled this looks like a surrender and hope is the scariest creature of all.

Jason Hague

As Jason narrates his son’s cycles of regression, progress, and then regression again,  we also see the same happen to him;  his faith in God and answered prayer likewise waxes and wanes based on these and other life circumstances. He totters from expectation to disappointment,  from hopefulness to resignation, from faith to fear. 

But finally, he comes to terms with the roller coaster that autism can be and decides to put his trust not in a program, professional, or process,  but in a Person.


If there is an answer to the mysteries and tensions  in this unfinished life,  we will not find it in philosophy or poetry or self-help religion. Rather  we only find it in a Person.

Aching Joy  would be impossible if we were self- sustaining adults but fortunately we are much smaller than that. We are children of an eternal King. Courage and healing are in his hands and he waits for you to call.

He waits for you to tell him where it is you ache and to rest under the shelter of his touch. 

Jason Hague
Jason Hague, author of Aching Joy 

Jason Hague

At this link to his website, you will learn more about Jason, access his blog, and read the first two chapters of his book. 

Aching Joy is published by NavPress and distributed /marketed by Tyndale. 

exploring the HEART of health through reading

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Read more about autism in this previous post.

Why Autism Diagnoses Have Increased

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in the U.S. is currently estimated at 1 in 36 children. Factors contributing to this increase include heightened awareness and changes in diagnostic criteria. The article stresses the importance of accurate identification and early screening, which may lead to more effective care and support for individuals with autism.

Keep reading

The Narrow Corner- a classic novel

In The Narrow Corner, Maugham tells a story about Dr. Saunders, an English physician who lives and practices in China. He is quite in demand among wealthy Chinese; we never learn exactly why he left England but the author hints that he was more highly regarded in the Far East than he had been in Britain. 

I recently read a classic  novel The Narrow Corner by W. Somerset Maugham. I remember reading his classic Of Human Bondage in high school.  

The Plot 

In The Narrow Corner, Maugham tells a story about Dr. Saunders, an English physician who lives and practices in China. He is quite in demand among wealthy Chinese; we never learn exactly why he left England but the author hints that he was more highly regarded in the Far East than he had been in Britain. 

Dr. Saunders is summoned away from his home  to a South Pacific island to attend to a wealthy man who requests his medical care. He boards a small ship with a salty captain and a young man who keeps his reason for travelling a guarded secret.

What was supposed to be a pleasant and uneventful trip to a tropical island, turned into an uncomfortable and shocking adventure when they meet four people whose lives proved more complicated that they initially appeared.  Dr. Saunders and his travelling companions soon find themselves sucked into their intrigue. 

The Language of 1932

Maybe because it is old, written in 1932, many of the words and phrases seem formal and archaic.Perhaps Maugham wanted to avoid dull prose. Here is an example of his eloquent way with words, with some explanations in parentheses.

“He (Dr. Saunders) was not very fond of idealists. It was difficult for them in this workaday (ordinary) world to reconcile their professions with the exigencies (urgent needs) of life, and it was disconcerting how often they managed to combine exalted notions with a keen eye to the main chance. They were apt to look down upon those who were occupied with practical matters but not averse from profiting by their industry.

Like the lilies of the field they neither toiled nor spun, but took it as a right but others should perform for them these menial offices (menial jobs).”

The Narrow Corner copyright 1932

In this passage, Maugham uses several phrases or quotes much older than his writing .

exalted  (lofty or elevated ) notions (thoughts or beliefs)  which has been attributed to Aristotle. 

eye to the main chance

referring to someone who is ambitious and eager to promote their own advancement. The first known use of it in print is in John Lyly’s, Euphues, the anatomy of wyt, 1579:

The reference to lilies of the field which neither toil nor spin is from the Bible, specifically Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as related in the book Matthew.

“And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

Matthew 6: 28-30, KJV

King James Version, public domain

The Language of the Bible- 1604-2006

King James authorized a Bible translation in 1604 , so this passage also uses terms we don’t use much today, like raiment (clothing) and  arrayed (dressed) . 

orange daylilies
Photo by Cindy Gustafson on Pexels.com

Some of the modern language versions translate lilies as “wild flowers”, or “flowers of  the field.” I think the image of lilies is much more descriptive. In 1932 most people still read the KJV of the Bible, so  Maugham  used this version. 

Here is a modern English translation of the same verses. 

“And why do you worry about clothes? Look at the wildflowers in the field. See how they grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. 

But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.”

Easy-to-Read Version Copyright © 2006 by Bible League international

These verses are among those attributed to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Here are some other posts based on  verses found there. 

Living and giving lavishly

The surprising blessing of discomfort

How to satisfy hunger and thirst

W Somerset Maugham

W Somerset Maugham was one of the 20th Century’s most popular novelists as well as a celebrated playwright critic and short story writer.

He was born in Paris but grew up in England and served as a secret agent for the British during World War II.

He wrote many novels including the classics , The Razor’s Edge, Cakes & Ale, Christmas Holiday, The Moon and Sixpence, Theater, Up at the Villa.  (Affiliate links)         

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