A good friend of mine recently loaned me a book called A Mother's Heart, by Jean Fleming.  Originally published in 1961 and reprinted several times, my copy had a very 70's looking watercolor picture of a woman and children on the cover and made me feel like I might be "finding"a find: an old treasure of a book.  Though it did indeed prove to be a treasure trove, the book's not hard to find.  It has been reprinted recently and the cover now looks like this--which I recognized from several catalogs I've seen:

more to our modern-cover appeal standards.  I am very glad it's still in print, because I can heartily recommend this book to my fellow mothers (and mothers-to-be)who are aspiring to be "all there" for their children.  Mrs. Flemming, now a grandmother wrote this back in the midst of her own mothering days as a missionary wife.  She helps a reader to consider a mother's vision and values. She discusses honestly some of her struggles with motherhood and thoughtfully evaluate the roots of our challenges such as battling selfishness, loving even when our mental images and goals for a special event are ruined, and reconsidering "our rights."  She endorses starting with ourselves with the goal of growing in Christlikeness and moves into finding the balance in priorities concerning our children in the realms of our marriage, home responsibilities and personal needs.  I love her chapter on Mother as Teacher.  I don't think she was a homeschooler, yet she calls women to make their homes a "learning tree" and how to develop character aims for our children.  She unpacks praying for our children showing how to get beyond the generalizations we can sometimes fall into.  She touches very lightly on discipline and inspires mothers to give children "roots and wings" by enriching and surprising and stimulating them in the home environment.  "I want them to see our home full of life because God is there," she says.  Her chapters are saturated in Scripture and sprinkled with inspiring examples and poems.  Here is a poem, among several she includes in the book:

    Now is the time to get things done...

     wade in the water,

     sit in the sun,

     Squish my toes

     in the mud by the door,

   explore the world in a boy just four.

     Now is the time to study books,

     flowers,

     snails,

     how a cloud looks;

     to ponder "up"

     where God sleeps nights,

    why mosquitos take such big bights.

    Later there'll be time

     to sew and clean,

     paint the hall

     that soft new green,

     to make new drapes,

     refinish the floor---

    Later on...when he's not just four.

                                    Irene Foster

                                    "Time is of the Essence"

    I've been mothering for ten years now, and A Mother's Heart was a satisfying drink at an oasis in the desert for me.  Going far beyond "the importance of motherhood" this book delves biblically into the spiritual and emotional aspects of mothering.  I felt like I was being encouraged by a mentor mom.  Great reminders, great help. 

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Posted by shallbe

How could I not want to read it after a review like that! It's hard to imagine that you need any inspirational help in mothering...you seem like you have it all together! Thanks for another tip!

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Posted by Anonymous

Thanks for the scoop. I've been reviewing a few key chapters in Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson. The one entitled "A touch of sympathy" has been especially encouraging and instructive. Sometimes it's nice to pick up a book and re-read it for the second (or third or forth) time. This is why we keep so many books around! I won't tell you how much over our weight allowance we were this past move:) I'll be praying for you today as you continue the pack/store/purge game we play every few years as military wives. I'll pray especially that you will be able to be joyful for your little ones in the midst of craziness. Personally, that is one of the most challenging aspects of moving for me:)

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Posted by javamamma

I love your new look! I hope your "blahs" are leaving and changing to "yays".
I'm very interested in this book so I'll have to pay a visit to amazon.com come next paycheck. Thanks for sharing!

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Posted by Anonymous

Was that "mother to be" comment for me? :) I look forward to reading it--maybe when I get more adept at breastfeeding I'll be able to use my sitting time wisely with some good books. I'll have to compile a list from all the ones you've recommended. Also, I absolutely love the poem. What a reminder to cherish the time we have, because truly, we cannot reclaim it. Even looking at those pictures you sent of little S and J from two years ago (a mere two years!), reminds me that for an adult, it may just be another drop in the bucket of time, but to little ones, it could be half their life-or more!
Hang in there, Christa. I know its got to be tough being a stonghold here at the end when your dh is stressing and writing. God won't give you anything you (with His help) can't handle. Don't be stressed at the lions and bears in life--David sure wasn't, and it prepared him for a glorious victory over Goliath. Here's to being faithful in the everyday things of life!

~Al

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Posted by EEEEMommy

I just recommended it to a friend of mine as well and then thought, it's been a few years, I should read it again. Especially since my kids were a little young to do the spiritual inventory when I first read it and I think I could get a whole new dimension of benefits from reading it now that they're older.

Part of my love for this book though stems from the mother who introduced me to it. A Navy/Marine wife (her husband was actually a POW in Desert Storm) who was such a tremendous blessing to me, did this book as a Bible study for us....great memories! Wow, that was, like, 6 years ago! Time flies!

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Posted by Lindsey G.

I have that same book. I haven't read it all (I get distracted sometimes during books and switch to something else lol) but I did love what I read. I also found great inspiration from "The Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie O'Martian, and "Dreams I'm Dreamin: Devotions for Mothers of Young Children" by Kim Boyce.

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Posted by grace4gayle

Thanks for the book suggestion! I'm heading right over to paperback swap to get it. Your fall outing looks wonderful! I love the pumpkin patch.

Gayle
www.spunkychicks.blogspot.com/

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Posted by dawilli

Sounds wonderful, I'll have to add that one to my wish list,
in Him,
ali

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Posted by fallinglikerain

Thank you for this review. I will be ordering the book today.
Sandy

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