Book Review: Ministry of Motherhood

This is review has been a long time coming.  From the moment I picked it up it brought light and encouragement.  I personally go through times where I'm just going through the motions in motherhood and I can imagine there might be other women who can relate to that, too.  This book The Ministry of Motherhood, by Sally Clarkson,  has been a God send!  

The book encourages us as mothers to do more than just "mother" our children, but raise them so that they will grow up to be strong and healthy in every area of their lives.  She talks about how the spritual and emotional maturity of her children would not just come about because she wanted it to or just by an example of her being good.  But that the "effective spiritual, emotional, social training in the lives of her children would have to be intentional and planned."  And so she writes of how she and her husband began to plan and talk about gifts that they wanted to give their children that would last all their lives.  She uses the acronym G.I.F.T.S. to help herself remember the spiritual priorities as their children grew up.

 In the five parts of her book she covers how she and her husband worked to instill Grace, Inspiration, Faith,Training, and Service into the lives of their children.  She gives examples from the Word of how Jesus taught and loved his own disciples.  She points out different ways that Jesus showed and taught these G.I.F.T.S. to them.   Also, she shares her own experiences from her life with her family and tells how she would use everyday opportunities to teach them these G.I.F.T.S.  She never claims to have it all together or that she a perfect parent.  She is real and open. 

This book encouraged me to be intentional in my parenting.  That our children are gifts and we shouldn't let them go to waste.   The things that we teach or don't teach them now will be with them for a lifetime. Also, that we should put a plan in place with a vision that equips our children with these GIFTS for a lifetime. And that motherhood is an important job that is often taken lightly and even more often lightly esteemed.  It is a ministry opportunity unlike any other and we should look at it as our first mission field.   

*I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review.