When Elizabeth Grace Harris first began journaling to her unborn child, she imagined those words one day being read by him, words of love, hope, and a mother’s dreams. She had waited years for a child, and when she finally discovered she was pregnant, her heart overflowed with gratitude. Writing became her way of capturing the joy of anticipation, of creating a keepsake that would one day connect mother and son in an unforgettable way.
But life does not always follow the plan we set in our hearts.
Elizabeth’s son, Johnjohn, was born with special needs. The dreams she had once carried so carefully—the vision of him growing up to read her words, to understand her thoughts and her love—suddenly felt out of reach. Yet instead of closing the journal, she kept writing. Those pages, once meant for milestones and celebrations, transformed into a place of processing, healing, and learning to see love through a different lens.
Her book, Dojo Johnjohn, is a collection born from those journals. It is a journey about resilience, surrender, and discovering the true depth of unconditional love. It became a cocoon for transformation.
The Unexpected Journey
Elizabeth’s experience resonates with anyone who has faced the shock of life taking a sharp, unexpected turn. She had imagined a certain kind of motherhood, one filled with familiar markers and predictable steps. When reality diverged from that dream, she was left with grief and confusion.
But instead of allowing those feelings to consume her, she returned to pen and paper. Writing had previously given her a way to process her dwindling dreams and fears before, so she turned to it again, and slowly, she began to see her son not as a reminder of what was lost, but as a living embodiment of what was possible.
In Dojo Johnjohn, she shares how her son became her greatest teacher. His presence, though different from what she expected, revealed truths about patience, perspective, social constructs and paradigms, and the Love that she may never have discovered otherwise.
Lessons From Johnjohn
One of the strongest themes in the book is the idea of Agapé Love, an enduring Love without conditions, Love that expects nothing in return. Elizabeth had learned about this from books and religious teachings, but it became real through her son’s life. She had previously tapped into this Love between herself and her Creator, but now it was about projecting this Love outward to others.
Johnjohn’s way of being in the world challenged her to let go of old ideas about success, achievement, and what it means to live a “normal” life. In their place, she began to see Love as something much simpler, and at the same time more profound: showing up, being present, and honoring the sacredness of another person just as they are, and seeing the gift they offer
Through her journals, readers witness this transformation firsthand. Her honesty makes the story relatable, even to those who may never walk her exact path.
Strength Redefined
Culturally, strength is often defined as toughness, powering through challenges without faltering. Elizabeth’s journey in Dojo Johnjohn redefines strength as something softer, but no less powerful. It is the courage to keep loving when life feels unfair. It is the resilience to sit with both heartbreak and joy without turning away from either. That kind of strength is something readers can carry into their own lives, whether they are parents, caregivers, or simply individuals facing unexpected change.
For Readers Everywhere
Although Dojo Johnjohn is one woman’s personal experience, it speaks universally as well. Everyone, at some point, faces a moment when their story doesn’t go as planned. A diagnosis, a broken relationship, a career ending too soon, these moments can shake the foundation of our lives.
Elizabeth’s book gives companionship. Through her words, readers feel less alone in their struggles. They see that even in disappointment, life can still hold meaning, and love can still expand in unexpected ways.
A Book That Matters
In a world that values intellect and external achievement, Dojo Johnjohn stands out because it values Love. It is the experience of a mother who kept showing up, even when her heart was breaking. That honesty is what makes it heartwarming. Readers don’t feel lectured or instructed. They feel invited to see their own challenges differently, to embrace love as it is, not as they imagined it should be. It is an invitation to wake up from one’s spiritual autism.
Final Thoughts
Elizabeth Grace Harris began her journals as a gift for her son. Over time, they became a gift for the world. Dojo Johnjohn is a memoir to resilience, to the unconditional love, and to the lessons hidden inside life’s hardest turns.
For parents of children with special needs, this book will feel especially close to home. For others, it will still resonate, because at its core, it is about learning to live and love when life doesn’t look the way we expected.
In the end, Dojo Johnjohn reminds us that love is not fragile, and it does not depend on circumstances. It is steady, patient, and strong enough to hold us even when the ground beneath us shifts. Elizabeth’s story is proof that sometimes, the very places we think will break us are the ones that end up showing us what love really means.