For this Blog Series intro or to check out the other categories, click HERE.
Next up in this blog series, I’d love to share three of the most influential books I’ve read about the intersection of faith and motherhood. Please check them out below!
Parenting By The Book: Biblical Wisdom for Raising Your Child – By John Rosemond
At first glance, you might think this is a “how-to” parenting book based on Biblical principles. And it is that to a certain extent, but not before John Rosemond shares invaluable insight about how parenting has changed over the last several decades, why it has become much more challenging than in previous generations, and what we can do as parents today to change the momentum in our own families.
Throughout the book, you will find Bible verses coupled with John’s own insight as a family psychologist and practical advice to help you in everyday situations. I read this book shortly before we brought our adopted daughter, Hannah, home from China. Not only did it prepare us as we welcomed a third child into our family, but it also shifted my mentality and speech while I was caring for our two other sons, making me more equipped as a mother and better aligned with Scripture in both words and action. Quite frankly, it was a game-changer.
Anonymous: Jesus’ Hidden Years… and Yours – By Alicia Britt Chole
First, a disclaimer… This book isn’t written solely for mothers, but it encapsulates much of what I have struggled with as a mom, so I think it fits well into this category.
Personally, there have been times as a mom that I have felt nearly invisible as I toiled away doing laundry and dishes, taking care of our kiddos, and just trying to keep our house somewhat clean and organized. It was like the daily mundane was drowning out who I was beyond just being a mom. Don’t get me wrong… even in those moments, I knew that my husband and children loved me dearly and appreciated my efforts… or the kids would have if they were old enough to understand! So, it’s not that I felt unloved… I just felt unseen. Have you been there before?
During one of these seasons, I was given this book by a dear friend, and it felt like God was speaking directly to me through the author’s words. Out of the hundreds of books Rhonda had lining her wall of bookshelves that day, the Holy Spirit directed her to give me just the right book at the just right time in my life. Realizing this brought me to tears, but it really wasn’t a surprise… That is just the way God works.
In Anonymous, Alicia Britt Chole explores the unseen years of Jesus’ life and how they prepared Him for His ministry ahead. She also parallels this with our individual lives today, illuminating how the seasons you feel anonymous and unappreciated actually build up your spiritual strength, grounding your identity as a child of God, and teaching you to trust in His perfect timing for the road ahead and all that He has planned for you.
Reading this book was a turning point in how I viewed the season I was in, helping me to find hope in the fact that God was using it as a time of cultivation and preparation for whatever His purposes held for my life. It was the exact reminder that I needed of His sovereignty and faithfulness. And even though I may have felt unseen, Anonymous I clarified that I am in fact seen and known… By God Himself.
Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments – By Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler
While you may not have heard of this book before, you might be familiar with the Risen Motherhood podcast, also by Emily Jensen and Laura Wilfer. I’m quite a bit late to the game when it comes to podcasts and have just recently started to enjoy the plethora that are out there, including some Risen Motherhood episodes, which were very good. They have over 250 episodes, and I’ve had several other mom friends recommend it, so from many accounts, it is worth a listen.
Although I’ve finally jumped on the podcast bandwagon, I’m much more of a visual learner than an auditory one, so when I really want information to sink it, I turn to a book… An actual book where I can underline the pivotal points and make all kinds of notes in the margins. This is why I wanted to read the book, Risen Motherhood… To be able to soak up all the insight they share on an even deeper level.
What I love about this book is that it weaves the beauty of the gospel into our reality as moms. It illustrates for us how the good news about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection actually applies to the everyday moments of our lives. Introducing each topic with a personal anecdote, Emily and Laura then articulate how God’s grand story arc for life, from Creation to Fall to Redemption to Consummation, serves as the backdrop of modern daily life too.
Covering topics ranging from birth experiences and body image to marriage and mundane moments and so much more, Risen Motherhood illuminates how God’s truth affects every aspect of our lives, and because of what Jesus has done, we can have real hope through it all.
Heather L. Myers 