Megan Breedlove – “Well Done! Good and Faithful Mommy.”

I have been a fan of Megan Breedlove’s ever since I stumbled upon her website, and found her devotionals inspiring and grounded in the Word.

She very kindly sent me (all the way from Texas, USA!) a copy of her first book, which comprised many short devotions.  I enjoyed it so much that, in addition to writing an Amazon review, I bought 3 more copies and gave them to my friends.

Recently, I bought her second book for my church library, and it really spoke to me.

This book deals with the lack of significance experienced by all mums, but especially SAHMs. Reading the first few chapters made me want to go out and buy copies for a couple of SAHMs whom I knew would be very encouraged by this.

She sets out that a primary mum-need IS to feel appreciated. We want to know what we do matters to those for whom we do it. I found it particularly comforting when she notes that “settling for what we realistically can get, if for too little, and for too long, can lead to discouragement.”

I began jotting down key phrases into my Day One app, as reminders to self.  Loosely paraphrased, some of the points were:

• Mums are often prepared for the work. But most are completely unprepared for the emotional cost of pouring our hearts and lives into other human beings without receiving as much in return.
• When we are discouraged we expend emotional energy trying to change our circumstances that produce our feelings, rather than accept that we have to change our feelings in the midst of our circumstances.
• I would be a far better servant if I dealt directly with my feelings about motherhood rather than trying to avoid them through further exhausting activity.

I particularly appreciated her illustration from Jeremiah 1 (verses 7 and 27). 

• God tells His messengers to speak to people who won’t appreciate it. He tells mums, I’ve given you the most impt job. But don’t expect to be fully appreciated.
• God demands glory, rightfully. But when we demand glory when fulfilling our God-given task of loving others, we desire what Lucifer did.
• We cannot seek self-glory to feel appreciated or fulfilled. It’s like drugs. Never enough. If we depend in people’s admiration to fulfil us, we are using them.
• Overall, head knowledge of these facts are insufficient. It needs to be believed in the heart.

In two other chapters, Megan encourages mums by explaining how what they do matters deeply to God.  Although I do understand the perspective from Matthew 25 of a mum caring for her children as serving “one of the least of these my brothers” (as Jesus said), I wonder if too much has been made of it. I feel a little uncomfortable thinking that I’m serving Jesus as I serve my children, and how my attitude in caring for them should be as if I were caring for my Lord.  I do understand where she’s coming from, but I would have interpreted that passage to apply more closely to the needy and downtrodden of society.  We care for our children as a form of stewardship ordained by our Lord, and its not quite the same as ministry to Jesus, but yes, I guess the key point she was trying to make is that what we do is significant in His eyes.

The points mentioned above are just snippets from the first half of this book. Overall, I’m really glad Megan (with dual masters degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in marriage and family counselling, as well as religious education) has started writing books with solid theological underpinnings, unlike much of the waffly Christian literature out there today.

Head on to “Like” Megan’s FB page!  Her posts there are fun, and a great source of encouragement and ideas. It was also from her FB page that I realised she’s may soon be publishing a new book. A while ago she polled for opinions on the working title “Mommy Guilt No More: Freedom and Grace for a Mom’s Journey”, which I like! 

I love how she’s on a roll. A couple of weeks later shared that she had submitted a book proposal on “Abundant Motherhood” – which will be about how we get “caught up in the trap of thinking motherhood is mainly drudgery, when in fact it’s the means through which Jesus plans to deliver the abundant life He promised!”  How true.

We could certainly do with such a steady stream of good Christian literature, aimed at inspiring Mums in their daily struggle, addressing issues of our time, and building up the body of Christ.  Praying that Megan’s wonderful ministry continues to bring glory to our Maker!