I love reading stories about other moms — how they discipline, how they love, how they strengthen their children’s faith. It’s almost like the urge our generation has to watch reality TV. When I see how other moms handle issues similar to what I’m going through, I’m encouraged to try something new in our home.
That’s why I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading The Heart of a Mother, a book of stories compiled by Wayne Holmes. It’s given me the chance to glimpse into the homes and relationships of 60 different mothers. And I’ve seen myself and my family many times between the covers — with a fresh dose of encouraging ideas.
The book is not a hodge-podge of “what I love about my mom” stories; it’s deliberately organized into ten sections. The topics include: a mother’s wisdom, prayers, example, grace, comfort, strength, lessons, provision, presence, and unconditional love. Holmes has done a magnificent job of weaving the stories together — as soon as I weep through a sweet, sentimental memory, I’m bursting out laughing through the next. Together, they form a masterpiece, one I’ll treasure and reread for many years to come.
Where was this book when I needed it a few months ago? I was working on a manuscript about mothers and daughters, a book which will be released in February. I didn’t want to simply write about me and my mom because I wanted my book, From a Daughter’s Heart to Her Mom: 50 Reflections on Living Well, to have universal appeal — for any daughter who wants to tell her mom how much she loves her — but maybe can’t find the exact words or time. So, while I was writing, I interviewed as many women as I could, asking them, “Tell me what you love about your mom.”
But The Heart of a Mother is full of what I was looking for! I love reading how Chonda Pierce’s mom helped her family thrive on a tight budget in “The Lemonade Stand.” Lanita Bradley Boyd’s story of forgiveness in “Waving at Miss Velma” is one I’ll read again and again to my kids as I teach them why we must love people we don’t feel like loving. I loved reading how Kay Shostak’s mom set aside her housework to play games with her kids in “Time For One More Hand?” and I cried through Birdie Etchison’s “A Mother’s Discipline.” In fact, that story describes me and one of my daughters exactly! But Birdie’s daughter grew up and at the age of 25 realized how much she appreciated her mom’s discipline. I’m not there yet — but this story gives me hope that one day she’ll understand my love for her.
Birdie ends her story by writing, “I wondered later how God must feel when his children don’t listen, don’t obey. He hangs in there with us anyway. His love and coaxing never stops. He doesn’t give up, nor can we mothers give up on our children. The task was rough, but it was worth every tear, every prayer, every hope I had.”
I highly recommend this book to any mom who needs a dose of grace and encouragement — or if you’re looking for a gift idea this Christmas to show your mom how much you appreciate her — buy this book and read it first! (I do that, sometimes. Do you?) Then you can say to your mom which story reminds you of her.
This book would also be a great tool for women who lead Bible studies or devotionals — or who organize women’s retreats or mother/daughter banquets. You can pick a story that will teach your group of women just how important their roles are as mothers and daughters.
