Sorry for the fuzzy picture, it’s a gray rainy day here so my camera didn’t want to focus. Anywhoo… still knitting my Lila sweater. I’m thankful for an easy, meditative, mindless knit in this busy week of last minute packing as we prepare to move this weekend. It’s easy to pick up in the evenings and unwind while working on it. I’ve just joined sleeves and am working on yoke shaping. It’s been unseasonably warm here in NC in February so I’m not sure if it will be cold enough to wear it when I finally finish! But I hope for some more winter weather before spring comes.
I am so greatly enjoying Long Days of Small Things (affiliate link). I find myself craving to read it during the day (but no time!!) and eagerly looking forward to squeezing in a few pages when I’m in bed. It’s a paradigm shifter for moms who have found that since becoming a mom there is no time anymore for the pursuit of God. We hear this so often from our fellow mom friends, don’t we? Even from our own hearts–where is the time, the energy, the finances, the brain power to put thoughts together to pursue God as we once did? So many mothers longing to be faithful in this trying season of sacrifice, yet feeling like failures because we feel that we must choose between our own pursuit of God and satisfying the constant demands of our little ones. No matter which we choose, we are tempted to feel like a failure for forsaking the other. Here’s a little excerpt from the first chapter:
“Children are consuming. They leave us with nothing left to give ourselves or anyone else. But this is the perfect training ground for our spirits, the very setting many disciplines are designed to produce. Our demanding, beloved children are what we create–they are our spiritual path. What if we looked through new eyes and discovered that into our very life stages our Creator has placed impressions of himself, reflections of his strength and beauty, a spiritual path laid out just for us?”
What I’m also loving about this book is the “practices” McNiel includes at the end of each chapter. They are simple, immediately attainable and small practices such as paying attention to your breathing throughout the day, walking, eating, washing. All the things we do cyclicly each day, finding these human activities to be worshipful. I have found myself thinking about this as I’ve been going about my usual routines this week and it has so deeply encouraged and helped! Just to realize sometimes that I’m holding my breath in stress–to take a deep breath and to say to the Lord as I do so: I’m breathing in your grace and steadfast love in this moment. I’m breathing out my fears and worries to you. Just this little prayer, over and over throughout the day–how can it bring such joy? But it does.
Anyway.. for any mom in the trenches: READ this book! I’m only a few chapters in but I believe I will love it to the end.
Joining with Ginny of Small Things today and her weekly yarn along.
everything He gives 
I’m definitely going to go check that book out! Thanks for the recommendation,
~fellow mommy in the trenches…..
The sweater is turning out beautifully!! It’s been warm here too in KS, but unfortunately, I am sure winter will be back:) Good luck on your move. Hopefully the weather will hold out for a few more days for you!!
Thank you Shannon!
Yup. Pretty sure you have sold me on the book. :-). Definitely in the trenches over here! Love that sweater, the color and the pattern both.
Congrats on your house! Hope the month of transition goes well for everyone. And you were reading Missional Motherhood before this – would you recommend this book before that one? (Seem like rather different reads anyway??)
They are very different reads! I love most of what Gloria Furman writes, though I have found myself slogging thru the last few chapters of Missional Motherhood. It’s more heady than some of her other books, so it depends on what you’re in the mood for, but I can’t say it’s my favorite of her books. “Glimpses of Grace” will always be one of my top favorite motherhood books as well as “Treasuring Christ in the Season of Motherhood” (both by Gloria Furman). “Long Days of Small Things” has been so incredible, I definitely recommend it.
Martha, I just stumbled upon this post, and I’m so grateful to hear that Long Days of Small Things has ministered to you. You have a lovely blog and family! Grace and peace to you.
Thank you so much!!! I was just thinking about your book last night and this morning, I need to post a review of it and am behind because of our recent move. But oh, how greatly it has ministered to me and encouraged me! I can’t thank you enough. Please write more (books)!
Grace + peace to you too