{Why} Motherhood Matters Giveaway

Now you are deep in what seems to be a peculiarly selfless service. The spiritual training of children must be that. You work for the years you will not see. You work for the Invisible all the time, but you work for the Eternal. So it is all worthwhile. ~ Amy Carmichael

{Why} Motherhood Matters by September McCarthy ~

 

Close to the middle of this book, right before the beginning of Part III, this quote is printed on the page under the heading {Why} You Will Lead Them in the Way They Should Go.

 

I don’t think there are too many mothers who get very far in their mothering before they begin to see that it’s not a mile-in-a-minute thing. Not at all. Mothering is a marathon. I’ve never run a marathon. I’m not going to say I never will,because those kind of statements have a way of coming home to roost. I WILL SAY, I will be the most shocked of anyone should I ever run a marathon.

I digress. As normal. 😉

 

The pages of this book hold a lot of encouragement and inspiration for mamas on the mama-ing journey!
Whatever stage of mothering you’re in…………new baby, ninth baby, almost empty-nester, tween or teen, toddler or track star……….you’ll find a take-away for you in these pages.

I like stories. I like life experiences shared by others. It’s a great way to learn!
And then it’s trying new things and adding or subtracting what works well for our unique mix of family and personalities!

Throughout the chapters in this book you’ll find Truths to Live By. Each one is a Bible verse set in the script of the chapter. I like this feature of the book.
At the end of each chapter, you’ll find a prayer centered on the heart of that particular chapter. I love this as well. God hears us. He hears our hearts and prayers and I love the focus on each specific need we have.

One of my favorite chapters in this book is entitled “{Why} You Should Love Your Spouse More Than Your Kids.”

I have long believed this to be such an important truth. Me and my man. That’s how this family began. That’s where we’re going to circle back to, Lord Willing. It’s an important foundation for your family.

 Here’s a checklist from this chapter of the book ~

September calls it a Loving Together Checklist.

1. Am I functioning off my own to-do lists daily?
2. Have we lost our vision as a couple?
3. Kiss every day. In front of the children.
4. Do we communicate about our needs and desires more than business as usual?
5. Are we working together as a team in parenting?
6. Go to bed together at the same time.
7. Always say I’m sorry in current time.
8. Remember that we are both changing. Learn to love the new.
9. Never stop talking.
10. Be available to each other all the time.

 

I think it’s a great list. Even if it needs tweaked a bit for YOUR particular needs or vision for your marriage and family, it’s a great launching point.

I happen to like lists. Somehow placing things in lists or bullet points makes my brain happy.

I’ll share another list I loved from the book.

It’s called Be the Change and it’s focusing on the atmosphere of our homes. I really like the ideas and inspiration this list provides.

1. Be in the Word of God daily.
2. Overflow with the goodness God gives you.
3. Fill your home with music, art, literature and fun. {This reminds me of The Life-Giving Home book by Sally Clarkson. I really, really like that book.}
4. Smile.
5. Discourage arguing and complaining.
6. Avoid gossip and don’t be a Debbie Downer. {Well, that hits close home since my name is Deborah. 😉 }
7. Keep a schedule and spend time together.
8. Learn to love one another well.
9. Be creative and fill your home with laughter.
10. Don’t allow the hardship of the world to stain or discourage your conversations. 

Some of the things on this list are quite simple, really. Some of them trend towards more difficult and require a discipline in my life.

It’s a good book. Will I do it all perfectly? Nope. Not even close! Am I glad for goals and grace and growing? Yep. Sure am!
Because too often I want to dwell in my inadequacies, yet in my heart of hearts, I think that’s a dangerous place to hang out. Motherhood is important! I am inadequate! BUT my God tells me HIS strength is made perfect in weakness and He saw me and He knew what He was doing when He made me a mother. EVEN though I have asked Him on occasion what He was thinking to give me kiddos because did He quite realize how inept I am at this?! 🙂

{Here’s a bit about the author, September ~}

September McCarthy is a writer, speaker, popular blogger, wife, and a home-educating mother to ten beautiful children. She is juggling the stages of motherhood, from adult children to toddlers, and is now a grandma to two more blessings.

September writes with a heart of compassion for broken lives and shares hope in her words for women in every season of life.

She is the founder and director of Raising Generations Today, a nonprofit ministry designed to equip and inspire moms to reach the hearts of their children for God’s glory. Through providing valuable resources, inspirational writers and speakers, annual conferences, practical teaching materials, and the connection of moms in every season of parenting, Raising Generations Today offers hope to women so that they may embrace and thrive in their roles as moms. September speaks nationally to share the hope she holds on to daily to navigate life’s waters.

September also blogs regularly at One September Day (www.septembermccarthy.com) where she encourages women to be brave and to embrace the gifts that God has placed upon them to hand the torch of the Gospel to their family and those around them.

September lives a rural life with her growing family, chickens, gardening, shelves overflowing with books, and a project always on the horizon. Her family is her number one priority, and her heart is always at home. She believes in new mercies every day and fresh grace on everyone she meets.

September, her husband, and family live in rural Upstate New York. To learn more about September, visit www.raisinggenerationstoday.com.

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Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Sidedoor Communications for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

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