One of the most encouraging things that I did when I was a young mother was being mentored by older mothers. I would watch how they cared for their children and ask questions about things that were happening in our home. Those mothers shaped who I became as a mom and gave me the courage to try new things and learn from my failures. There were times, though, that I did not have an older mom walking beside me, holding my hand as I discovered life as a Christian mom.
What did I do then? I invested in reading lots of books about motherhood and parenting. These books were a true blessing to me. I was able to learn, grow, and challenge my thinking in a variety of areas. While I didn’t agree with each author one hundred percent of the time, I built a great framework for the kind of mother I wanted to be and how I would parent. Each mom needs to be a reader, and in turn, she will be blessed by the ideas contained in each book. Below you will find some great reads for you as you run the race God has set before you as a mom… they are blessings for mothers.
1. The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
“Discover how understanding God’s purpose and design can empower you to be the mother you long to be. No calling is greater, nobler, or more fulfilling than that motherhood. Every day, as we nurture our children, mothers influence eternal destiny as no one else can. Tragically, today’s culture minimizes the vital importance of a mother’s role. In The Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson helps you rediscover the joy and fulfillment to be found in the strategic role to which God in all his wisdom has called you, for a purpose far greater than you can ever imagine.”
Sally has many books that have been personally meaningful to my heart. The Ministry of Motherhood is another excellent read for all mothers!
2. The Power of a Praying Mom by Stormie Omartian
“Bestselling author Stormie Omartian’s heart resonates for you as a mom who wants to lift up your children to the One who is a Father to all. ‘If we can be sure our children have strong faith in God and His Word, and the love of God in their hearts, then we can trust that they are set for eternity. Our prayers play a big part in helping them achieve that.‘” (Stormie Omartian)
If you want to be challenged in your prayer life for your children, read this book! It was an encouragement and a wakeup call for me to be more intentional as a mom to pray. I discovered that the power in my life comes directly from the Lord, and I can tap into that through time in the Word and through prayer.
3. A Mom After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George
“You feed them, bathe them, hold them, kiss them, and pray for them. Your days are spent loving and caring for your children. In all the distractions of life and the demands of being a mom, how can you know if your children will grow to follow after God?
Bestselling author, Elizabeth George has journeyed through the ups and downs of mothering children into adulthood. In A Mom After God’s Own Heart, she offers encouraging advice and practical tips to help you raise children of all ages in the knowledge of the Lord.”
I have taught through this book with hundreds of women of all ages. It is simple to read and full of Scripture to meditate on. I especially love this book for young mothers.
4. 10 Habits of Happy Mothers: Reclaiming our Passion, Purpose, and Sanity by Dr. Meg Meeker
“Friendship. Simplicity. Love. Value. Faith. Solitude. Money. Fear. Hope. Purpose. Dr. Meg Meeker has seen mothers struggle with these 10 issues for the past 25 years, and she has also learned how to help them live less stressful, happier, more fulfilling lives. The Ten Habits of Happy Mothers will show women how to reduce loneliness, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem by inspiring women to embrace more positive emotions and habits. Using inspirational stories and specific action plans, Dr. Meeker shows mothers how to live more simply, spend time in solitude, understand their value as mothers, embrace healthy friendships, confront their fears, seek hope, find their spiritual center, reconcile their relationships with money, and learn to live boldly and deliberately.”
This book is a new one for me. I have loved Dr. Meeker, and this book has not disappointed me yet! I highly recommend Dr. Meeker’s books.
5. Mothering by the Book by Jennifer Pepito
Becoming a better, happier mom starts with the stories you tell your kids
As a mom, you want to nurture a strong family, but fear steals your joy. Sometimes you wonder if you’re failing your children or whether you’re cut out for this.
Beloved writer and mom of seven Jennifer Pepito understands. She was intent on loving her children well, but fear and worry pushed her around. Ultimately, she found her joy in a most surprising place: the pages of classic literature she was reading aloud to her children every day. These stories helped her reclaim the wonder of childhood for herself and her children.
In Mothering by the Book, Jennifer takes you on a fascinating, whimsical journey that will bring freedom and fun to your parenting–one great book at a time.
6. M Is for Mama: A Rebellion Against Mediocre Motherhood by Abbie Halberstadt
“Mama of ten Abbie Halberstadt helps women humbly and gracefully rise to the high calling of motherhood without settling for mediocrity or losing their minds in the process.
Motherhood is a challenge. Unfortunately, our worldly culture offers moms little in the way of real help. Mamas only connect to celebrate surviving another day and to share in their misery rather than rejoice in what God has done and to build each other up in hard times. There has a be a better way, a biblical way, for mamas to grow and thrive.
As a daughter of Christ, you have been called to be more than an average mama. Attaining excellence doesn’t have to be unsettling but it will take committed focus and a desire to parent well according to God’s grace and for His glory. M is for Mama offers advice, encouragement, and scripturally sound strategies seasoned with a little bit of humor to help you embrace the challenge of biblical motherhood and raise your children with love and wisdom.
Mama, you are worthy of the awesome responsibility God has given you. Now it’s time to start believing you can live up to it.”
7. The Five Love Languages of Children by Dr. Gary Chapman
“You know you love your child. But how can you make sure your child knows it? The #1 New York Times bestselling The 5 Love Languages® has helped millions of couples learn the secret to building a love that lasts. Now discover how to speak your child’s love language in a way that he or she understands. Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Ross Campbell help you:
- Discover your child’s love language
- Assist your child in successful learning
- Use the love languages to correct and discipline more effectively
- Build a foundation of unconditional love for your child
Plus: Find dozens of tips for practical ways to speak your child’s love language. Discover your child’s primary language—then speak it—and you will be well on your way to a stronger relationship with your flourishing child.”
When you go through seasons of motherhood where you don’t have a mentor, the next best thing is to get Christian books on mothering! These books have all had a part in teaching and mentoring me or my friends as we have developed our mothering skills… and continue to develop them. I pray that they will be a blessing to you as well!
Have you read any of these books? Will you share that with us in the comments? Which other books do you recommend that I add to this list?
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