First, a little bit about me and how this book came to be…
So, let’s chat. I love chatting! And meeting new people, especially moms. I am a mom, I have a mom, and I have worked with moms for years as a childbirth educator. And my writing style is much like my teaching style, telling things like they are with truth, humor and transparency.
I hated it when the instructor told me in Lamaze class that the contractions wouldn’t hurt. That was simply not true. And I vowed then and there that everything I did in life had to be truthful, but that sometimes the truth hurts so humor tempers lots.
Anyway, I have four kids, two adult sons, 28 and 25 and two younger daughters, eleven and thirteen, and for those who wonder about the gap, our third child was actually the only one truly, truly planned for the time she arrived, as she was adopted and brought home from Vietnam at five months of age.
My husband and I have been married for almost thirty years and met in college and have hung in and on ever since. We live in a small town in Central PA where he is a physician and I spend most of my time after three pm in the car.
The opportunity to write this book came to be as a result of a totally divine happenstance conversation I had with editor extraordinaire and grace dispenser Kim Bangs who invited me to submit a concept sheet and then proposal for this book.
Well, what about that soft spot for moms?
Moms have a tough job, don’t you think?
We do have the Bible, and not to minimize that as an instruction manual in right living by any stretch of the imagination, but it tends to come in after friends and family and all their free advice, that can be pretty costly…
So the question arose, how can we take Biblical wisdom and stories, role models and examples, and weave them into relevant (and funny) stories to encourage moms? I know I need encouragement! Everyone else’s kids may be perfect, but mine are NOT. And, shocker, neither am I. But guess what? Neither were many of the moms, ok, all of the moms in the Bible. Remember, Jesus has the corner on the market in the perfection department, so God has provided lots of examples of moms and how they dealt with different situations, similar to what current day moms deal with. Truly, there is nothing new under the sun. But, the story of the Bible is one of redemption, and moms need to remember that.
So, the opening story for Genesis, is titled, “E is for Eve and Epidurals.”
So, tell us a little bit about how the book is laid out, and who is Henrietta Mears?
The book is inspired by the writing of Henrietta Mears, renowned Bible Teacher from Hollywood Presbyterian Church in the 1940’s and on. She believed in making the Bible accessible to everyone, and wrote her hallmark publication, What the Bible is All About, and was the founder of Gospel Light Publishing, Regal’s (the publisher of this book) parent company. So Regal has now published two devotionals inspired by her writing.
The book is comprised of 66 chapters, one for each book of the Bible, each one bit sized for busy moms.
Each chapter starts off with a brief section entitled “Snapshot from Henrietta” which serves as a basic overview for that particular book of the Bible. It is then followed by selected Scriptures, also inspired by the writing of Miss Mears, with one specific Scripture from among her selections highlighted. This Scripture is one that has particular relevance to moms.
A short one sentence synopsis precedes each story under the heading, “Momento” and then is followed by the story under the heading, “Mama Mia” which focuses on a mom or mom theme.
Each story is followed by an encouragement, “Lightening the Mother Load” and then closes with questions for reflection under “Musings for Moms.”
What else would you like to share?
I would love for people to join the conversation, come stop by for a visit at my web site: www.kathypride.com, also known as The Mennonite Diva. Friend me on Facebook, although there I listed my “full” name for some unknown reason, Katherine Pride (so formal) follow my blog on the home page of my website, and just hang out.
Wait just one minute…did you say Mennonite Diva? Tell me about that.
Sure. First of all, my message of encouragement to women is that they all need to release their Inner Diva’s. They are Divinely Chosen, Inspiring, Valued and Amazing. I worship at a Mennonite Church where I also serve as the Outreach and Missions Director, and I love pink and having fun. So please drop by!
Follow Kathy Pride on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/Kathy.Pride.Mennonite.Diva
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Back Cover Review:
Okay, first Kathy Pride had me at Mennonite Diva and Pennsylvania – that’s all familiar territory for me! Next I was captivated by the sub-titles under the books of the Bible: E is for “Eve” and “Epidurals” (been there!)…Getting Rid of the Guilt (what Mom doesn’t struggle with guilt?!)…Delight and Disappointment (all in a day’s work, right?)…One Day at a Time (the only way to stay “above water”)…Hold on To Those Promises! (every day!)...Pure Pain is Pure Joy (doesn’t that sum up motherhood?)…just to name a few (comments in parenthesis mine).
I love that this book and each devotional focuses on a book of the Bible! Thank goodness the Bible passages recommended have been shortened from Mrs. Mears original plan because they were still plenty long, but…it isn’t like there’s a time limit for reading each devotional! In her writing, Kathy shares as a Mom who has been there in the trenches and survived and held on to the lifeline of God’s word, love, compassion and hope. Her devotionals offer a transparent glimpse into her life and heart that as a young mom, I found very helpful. Great devotional!
A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me as a blog tour host by the author in exchange for posting this interview on my blog. Please visit Christian Speaker Services at http://www.christianspeakerservices.com/ for more information about blog tour management services.
