Just in time for Mother’s Day, meet the newest (in)courage book — A Mother’s Love: Celebrating Every Kind of Mom — which is available TODAY! (in)courage writer and team member Anna Rendell compiled this book with all women in mind so that we can celebrate those who made us, shaped us, helped us grow, and loved us well — whether they’re our (or anyone’s) mothers or not. Take a peek into our newest book with this excerpt and a few pages from the book. We hope you love this special collection of stories, Scripture, and art!
I go through dozens of Grandma’s collected pieces of china, each one delicate and fine. And my mom has a story for each one:
“Oh, that was the candy dish! If I snuck a piece, I had to lift the silver lid just right, so it wouldn’t make any noise.”
“She set out that dish and filled it with nuts, served with this silver spoon at every church ladies’ circle meeting.”
“She put mashed potatoes in that bowl!”
I scour the Internet for details on the precious china and glassware, and what I find makes me gasp. Each piece is worth actual dollars! Some pieces are worth several actual dollars! The day I loaded her white Havilland china into the back of the minivan, I drove almost as carefully as the day we brought our firstborn from the hospital.
As I set each dish, plate, and cup in its new home in my china hutch, I pause to really look at them — and marvel at what I see. Light and tiny but very much present atop of plates are lines where knives scraped across them decades ago. She actually used these!, I think.
And that thought strikes me hard because I am a saver. Gardenia perfume I wore on my wedding day? I spritz it on my wrists only on our anniversary. Beautiful teacup from my wedding shower? I haven’t used it since. Crisp white linen napkins, received for our engagement? I only bring them out for Christmas dinner. All these gifts, literally collecting dust.
Most likely, their giver wouldn’t be too happy if they knew their gifts were just taking up space instead of bringing joy on a regular basis. While some things are more meaningful when held onto, the idea of leaving my best things unused doesn’t sit well in my heart.
Because if I can’t bring myself to use the good dishes on a Tuesday night, what else do I hoard and squirrel away? My best listening ear, reserved for only dear friends in crisis. The best of my servant’s heart, reserved for those who can somehow serve me back. The best of my God-given gifts, reserved to the point where they become buried, and I argue when He asks me to use them.
It’s as though we believe the things we save could save us.
“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or — worse! — stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.”
Matthew 6:19-21 (MSG)
I’ve heard it said that “you become what you behold” — wisdom from 2 Corinthians 3:18. What am I becoming if I am holding back the best of my things, and the best of myself — both out of fear?
My grandma never held back. She brought out the good plates and lit the candles on the dining room table for lasagna dinner on Wednesday nights. She always had a full candy dish waiting for us. She never withheld her listening ear or her love. Her warm and wrinkled hands were ready for holding, and her arms open wide for hugs. She was generous with her love, her time, and her costume jewelry collection.
There is deep power in the loving of others, and we are able to both give and receive that when we gather around the table and give our best.
Grandma’s dishes now live in my china hutch and kitchen cupboards. Over time, I will add to the faint knife scrapes on the plates, so that when my kids go through them in sixty years, they too will have stories to tell.
An excerpt from A Mother’s Love, from the (in)courage community. Story written by Anna Rendell.
A Mother’s Love: Celebrating Every Kind of Mom is full of reflections of God’s heart and unique and diverse stories from the (in)courage community that offer heartfelt encouragement to all sorts of mothers, whether they be mothers in the traditional sense, mothers in the spiritual sense, or mother-figures who break the mold. It is sure to help any woman share a meaningful gift with a mother-figure who has been impactful in her life.
And since it releases TODAY, we want to celebrate by giving away FIVE book sets! Just leave a comment on this post, and you’ll be entered to win a copy of A Mother’s Love — one copy for you, and another to gift to a mother-figure or friend. It’s a beautiful gift for all the special women in your life!
Order your copies of A Mother’s Love today!
**Giveaway closes on 4/10/2020. Winners will be notified via email.
[bctt tweet=”Celebrate the mother-figures in your life with @incourage’s new book, A Mother’s Love: Celebrating Every Kind of Mom — available today! #amotherslovebook” via=”no”]
Leave a Comment
Janine Fanning says
Wow i have just found this site and reading that makes me believe I’m in the right place. Win or loose I feel it’s right for me to read this book!! Thank you for the opportunity to be here.
Mary Ruth McNatt says
These stories and devotions move me in so many ways. They bring back memories, they teach me how to love more deeply with grace and they bring great honor to God. A true tribute to Mothers and the power of Love.
Kerry says
I am not a mother, but to every mother, I hope each of you find joy knowing that as your children get older they will look back at all of the sacrifices you made, the lessons you taught and the endless opportunities you gave and feel nothing but love, blessings and gratitude. I do. Every.Single.Day. The hard stuff you do now is bearing endless fruit for generations to come❤️
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Anna,
This sounds like a wonderful book celebrating all sorts of moms and those who have mentored others in a mother-type role. I can relate to your grandmother in bringing out the good dishes for everyday moments. This is the day the Lord hath made…we don’t know what tomorrow holds…please do enter me in the drawing!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Linda Null says
Always touching my heart and lifting me up, I love reading (in)courage’s devotions. I was blessed to have 2 mothers: my birth mom who gave me life but later, due to her life circumstances, was forced to give me up for adoption at 9 months of age and my mother who raised me and gave me a beautiful life. God bless all mothers.
Penny Cobb says
Beautiful truths and memories you shared, it took me back to my grandmother’s home. She loved using the “good dishes”, and we never left empty handed. I have tried to carry on that example to my own children and grandchildren. Thank you.
Diana Willis says
Beautiful book!!
Diana
Sandy Martz says
My daughter just became a mom in January and my daughter-in-law is due to deliver any day. What a blessing it is to be a Nana! I would love to gift copies of this book to each of them….perhaps they will will receive some peace, comfort, blessing about motherhood in reading the pages. Thank you for your daily devotion…it starts my day in the right way!
Dawn says
Anna, this made me think of my two sweet grandmothers. And the wonderful mom the Lord blessed me with! Please enter me in the drawing
Christy says
What a blessing you all are! I would love to give this book to my mom this year, she has been through so much these last few years but still gives love to others.
Thank you!
Christy
Michele Morin says
What a beautiful presentation of encouraging words! Great job, Anna!
Elizabeth says
Your story about the dishes reminded me so much of going through my grandmother’s china, which sadly now sits in a cabinet. I hope that I will be able to create those sort of meaningful memories for my daughter.
Norma Bowers says
This sounds like a wonderful book…would love to win to share with a special mentor friend in my life!
Christa Beach says
What a beautiful little book. I love the journaling prompt! We moms need all the encouragement and help we can get these days. Thank you for remembering moms!
Blessings,
Chris
Emmanuel says
This is amazing! I will get for my wife!
Yvette says
May we all be more like Grandma and hold nothing back!
Joni says
I would love to share this book with my daughter and daughter-in-law…both young mothers! This is a book I would have benefit from when I was young. Thank you Anna for your beautiful insights❤️
Hannah says
Beautiful reminder! I too tend to hold into the precious things. But then they go years without being used and celebrated. This probably makes God very sad and even angry. I think this attitude toward my things really indicates a heart unwilling to share.
Natasha says
This would be a book to read and then pass along to all the wonderful mother’s in my life.
Heidi says
I would love to give this to my mom!
Mallory Slone says
I love this excerpt! Sounds like an amazing book. I’m about to be a first time mom (34 days!!!) so having this on hand to read through would be awesome! Thanks for sharing wonderful blog posts each day that we can read and use to be encouraged as we go through the rest of our day.
Chelsea says
I’m already hooked on the excerpt I just read. Wow that speaks to me! I would love to read more of this book and can think of some other mother figures in my life that I would love to share with!
Joan Moore says
Congratulations on the new book. It looks delightful!! Thank you for the chance to win a copy and one to share!!❤️
Tamara says
This is beautiful! Today is the best day you have…. celebrate, use and share your best, the best God has given you! Especially in these uncertain times…. live for today, it is a gift. Praying for safety, health and God keep our world in His care. He will make all things new! May this Holy Week be a time of reflection of this great, overwhelming love from God !
Linda says
This is a lovely idea for a Mother’s Day gift! Would love to give it to my ex daughter-in-law
Allison says
I read an exerpt from Anna’s book in Home Life Magazine this month and was so moved, tears welling up in my eyes. I have a 4 1/2 year old and 5 month old, both boys, and have just come out of a season of postpartum depression complicated by job loss following return from maternity leave. It is by the grace of God that I have gotten over to the other side and thank God every single day, multiple times per day for giving me strength to do so. I immediately thought of all the mothers in my life and friends who are mothers of all sorts. I wish I could buy all of them a copy, but plan on purchasing several for Mother’s Day gifts. Anna, I know this book is amazing from the few parts I have already had a sneak peek of!! I can’t wait to read it 🙂 And, thank you (in) courage community for providing this content daily!
Irene says
Anna, this looks like a very special book. Bravo!
Stephanie says
Thanks for sharing ❤️
Tracy L says
What a sweet book!
Ruthie says
My mom has beginnings of dementia and she no longer does the things she enjoyed so much…I grieve the fact that I didn’t appreciate to the fullest the things she loved so now I try to recreate those things when I go to visit …I live 800 miles away with this social distancing we still FaceTime daily …this book would give me opportunity to read to her and tell her what a good mom and grandma She has been
Barbara Rothman says
This book seems like one that would bring women back into their childhood living out memories with their mother’s & grandmothers. My grandmother lived with us until she passed away when I was 9 1/2 years old. She was a Hungarian Jew & I loved hearing her stories & loved her many meals that she prepared for our family. I loved her so much! Lives are so rich with memories from times past as well as encouragement to make memories for our children & grandchildren. I know have two precious granddaughters whom I cherish time with. They live 300 miles away but when they come to stay with us my husband & I do so much with them to show them love & to learn new things. Lord bless you as you publish such a wonderful book!!!
Barbara
Tyane Milem says
This looks like a beautiful book and I love that there are journaling prompts in it, as well. This brings me back to the times I had with my mom and grandmother when I was a little. My mom passed away in ’98 and my grandmother in 2013, and both of these women helped me become the mother I am today! I could see a bunch of these stories speaking to me in many ways, and would love to own this book soon.
Courtney Slice says
Love starting my day off with your thought-provoking posts. Thank you for being in my Inbox every day! 🙂
I also would love to win a copy of A Mother’s Love as it would be the perfect Mother’s Day gift for my Mom. We live a country apart, so I won’t be able to spend Mother’s Day with her in person again this year!
Karen Bessette says
I have tried not to hoard my God-given gifts, whether materialistic or spiritual. What is shared just grows and grows the Circle of God’s love around more and more people. God has been so good to me. I want people to know about God’s love and not hoard it just for me! Amen.
Melody says
I still celebrate my Mother’s love even though she had her Homegoing almost 14 years ago! How blessed I was to have such a loving Mother!
Maribel Lazaro says
How I see myself in you! Yes, I save the beautiful, valuable items for special people and special occasions! Even with clothes — they still have their price tags but they don’t fit me anymore!
Anyway, your book seems to be a very special one. I hope I win one of the copies! Blessings to you and your family. Continue to write encouraging stories and reminders!
Caitlin Chambers says
This story is so beautiful! I want to be remembered the way you remember your grandmother! So precious!
Nancy Ruegg says
This post’s conclusion, Anna, offers a surprising purpose for our belongings–at least for some of them: so we and those who come after us will have stories to tell–stories that inspire character and teach life lessons. If the dishes remain in the cupboard, the quilt hides in the cedar chest, and the teacup sits on a shelf, there are no stories. Let’s use the Havilland (yes, we have
Grandma’s set too!) now and then and leave a legacy of meaningful memories along with the plates!
Joan Litton says
I couldn’t help but think of my grandmother when I read some of the excerpts. She had a few one of a kind recipes that usher in so many wonderful memories for me and all who loved her. Her faith and care for her large extended family still bring big smiles that light up a room when she is mentioned. A Mother’s Love will be appreciated and loved by many. Congratulations on its release.
Megan says
Thank you so much for sharing! I’ve never thought of it this way before, and I do tend to hoard things. Thank you for helping me to think of it in a different light.
Jane says
There are so many women I know who are wonderful examples of mother love. I thank God for them and wish them many blessings.
A book like this would be wonderful for them all. Will you be offering any bulk pricing
Juliana says
What a cute book! Love it!
Beth Williams says
Anna,
It is always tempting to “hoard” or save for a special occasion precious items from grandparents, wedding, etc. In so doing we aren’t allowing the world to share in our joy. Plus it makes you wonder what other things you are hoarding. Now is the perfect time to use those dishes & tell your children the wonderful stories of great grandma. You have a legacy to leave your children. Celebrate your the moms in your life.
We also have a legacy of God’s love to share with this world. Right now in this perilous time it is imperative we show this world some of God’s peace & love. People are scared & need to have hope. We can do it by not hoarding His love & grace. Let’s celebrate our moms, grandmas, & mentors. All the women who helped shape us. Then take their love & spread it all over to others.
Blessings 🙂
Kathy says
During this time of social distancing, there is much time to reflect on how our everyday life goes and how we wish it were different. This perspective on things that are hoarded hits home. I am trying to reach out as a mom more often to all. As I am soon to be a first time grandma I want to share the joys all of this will bring. As I get the family cradle ready for another generation, stories and memories need to be written down and passed along. I can’t wait to be more proactive in sharing what the bible tells us with the new little one.
Melanie N says
I’m a saver too and realize that I shouldn’t be. Working towards using what I have or give it away. This book sounds right up my ally.
Kris says
The excerpt you choose resonated, I am the recipient of passed down china. I have tried to be proactive in using it often… thank you for the encouragement to embrace all our gifts and treasures to bring glory to God