The other day, I watched my 2 year old show off her pink toenails to her little brother. He was as thrilled as you can expect a 3 month old boy to be. I was just trying to make sure her foot didn’t kick him in the face.

Being a mom of little ones comes with blessings, hilarity, crying, and challenges. Not all the crying is from the children, mind you. Sometimes Mom cries the loudest. That’s why this book I recently finished reading was so timely for me. If you are a Mom of littles, this book has some good “blessing potential” for you.

Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches is a book written by Rachel Jankovic. A mother of five (at the time the book was written. but currently expecting #6), she knows exactly what it means to mother “in the trenches.” This book is full of stories from Jankovic’s personal experience of mothering as well as examples of lessons she has learned. She is very open throughout the book and freely shares her “mommy mess-ups.”

Even though the book contains 20 chapters, it is very thin. Some of the chapters are only a few pages long. This makes it an easy book for busy moms to read. You can pick it up, read a chapter during naptime and still have plenty of time to clean the kitchen!

One of my favorite chapters was chapter 12 entitled “Me Time.” Hang with me here.

I have given birth to two babies. My body is not what it used to be. “Me Time” stresses the importance of using our bodies as the tool God designed them to be. God has designed my body as an effective tool for giving birth. And that’s how I have used it. It is not what it was when I was 16. Or 22, for that matter. And I should not try to preserve it in its’ teenage state. It is a tool to be used for a specific purpose. Since it has been used, it will not be the same as it was when it wasn’t used.

With that said, Jankovic also stresses the idea that our bodies are tools. They should be kept in good condition so they can be used – either for children or for other purposes which God has given.

 “One of the greatest testimonies Christian woman can have in our world today is the testimony of joyfully giving your body to another. While so many women choose to not have children or abort the children that they were given, the testimony of women who know the cost and joyfully pay it is profound. So make sure that you aren’t buying into the world’s propaganda. While there are a great many rewards, the sacrifice is very real. […] But the answer to these obstacles is not to run away in fear as the world does, but to meet it with joy, and in faith.” (chapter 12, page 59-60)

Excellent. What an encouragement to use our bodies for the purpose the Lord has made them and with a joyful attitude! This message is completely opposite what the world is screaming. Just the other day, I read an article written by a woman in her 50’s who paid to have a tummy tuck. She mentioned at the end of the article that she would fight the signs of aging with everything she had in her – and with her pocketbook, if need be.

For what purpose?

Use your body as the tool God created it to be. Strive to keep it in the best shape possible so that He can use it for whatever purpose He chooses. And leave the rest in His hands.

This book was definitely a fun and easy read. I was disappointed there were not many Scripture references throughout the chapters. Some of the chapters contained no verses. If you are looking for a book that is grounded in Scripture, you’ll be disappointed to read this one. But if you’re looking for a fun read from a Mom who has a lot of experience in the trenches of Mom-hood, this book will most likely be a great blessing to you!

Here’s hoping you have a lovely weekend…

Linkin’ on up to:
Serenity Now