Hello friends!
Do you ever have moments of #momfail? We try to laugh about that here in our house (oh, there are so many!). But below the silly mistakes or funny mis-speaks (you know, when you put in a syllable that doesn’t belong there or put in the wrong word here and there), I do have questions about my mom ability.
I try not to compare myself with my mom friends. I have got friends who are AMAZING. Who have gifts and abilities that, to be honest, I will never have. And really, God does instruct us in Scripture not to compare ourselves with others. We have the gifts, the abilities, the moments in time that we have and that He has given to US, not to others.
But how can I make sure that my core identity–the person I am under those gifts/abilities/personality–is healthy, and bringing health to my family? And I’m not talking about healthy meals here (though I do think those are important). I’m talking about being a woman who lives in the truth. And that is a hard thing to do sometimes. The media tells us their “truths” about a woman’s appearance, beauty, worth, importance. We can accept as “truth” the actions that others have toward us, whether positive or negative. We can even use our mirrors as truth-tellers. But in every interaction we have with the people or things on that list, our minds and hearts are going to make interpretations. And those are shaped by our own experiences, relationships, successes, and sadly, our hurts.
I have been on a journey recently where I have seen more and more the importance of living in and dwelling on the truth as God defines it. I am trying to take my experiences and emotions and line them up with what the Bible says before I just take them on. (It’s definitely a skill I am learning, and not always automatic.) But, I’m also looking for other resources that will aid me in that journey. And when I saw the title of Brooke McGlothlin’s new book, Gospel-Centered Mom, I was immediately interested.
Gospel-Centered Mom
Author Brooke McGlothlin heads and cofounded Raising Boys Ministries. She writes for an online boy mom community, on LifeWay’s ParentLife blog and on the Proverbs 31 Devotional website. Perhaps most importantly in terms of this book, she is a mother who wanted to be a great mom for her kids. But how do we do that, when culture and media tell us how to be the “perfect” family, or our own hearts compare our families with others and we feel we come up short?
Instead of pursuing those unhealthy ideals, Brooke went back to God. She learned that just trying harder was not enough. But turning to God first and foremost was. I love the subtitle of this book, which reads: “The freeing truth about what your kids really need.” Because that’s really the bottom line, isn’t it? Not what I am feeling forced by my culture to make, but what my child needs from me to become the amazing young man that God wants him to be. That changes my focus pretty dramatically.
In Gospel-Centered Mom, Brooke discusses:
- The difference between the ME Gospel and the True Gospel
- Living my life as part of God’s enormous, amazing Story instead of my own, self-focused story
- Living in the truth (I’ve mentioned already how important that is for me at this moment in time)
- Practical things I can do every day to live in that truth
- How God meets us in the wilderness, shows us Himself, and loves us…even while He’s showing us the truth about ourselves
- And one topic that is so useful but is even hard for me to write down here: Why is God letting me suffer?
My thoughts
Brooke McGlothlin is a woman who writes the truth. When we live in a culture that is so focused on the newest amazing beauty product that will change your life; or shows you pictures of the “perfect” family life that you should be living; or tells you unrealistic ways that you can “be your best self”—we need people who will boil down truth to its essence and share that truth with us.
In Gospel-Centered Mom, Brooke shares honestly from her own struggles as a mom and a woman who believes in God…and shares hope with those of us who are in similar struggles. Sometimes the answer really is as simple as coming to God. But Brooke’s words also tell us how to come to God; how to work out our lives and relationships, and even our own weaknesses as mothers–by living in love with God and in His truth.
This book is worth reading. Check it out.
Enjoy! –Wren
Disclosure: From time to time, finchnwren may receive a free product or service in exchange for our honest opinions expressed in our blog. We are not required to write a positive or glowing review, nor are we additionally compensated for these reviews. We share our own opinions, and our family’s opinion, of these products. We’re disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.