Book Review: Mere Motherhood: Morning Times, Nursery Rhymes, and My Journey Toward Sanctification by Cindy Rollins

Mere Motherhood: Morning times, nursery rhymes, and my journey toward sanctification by Cindy Rollins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Own.

I must admit, I loved this book from the moment I knew it was coming out.

I read Cindy’s blog for years and years, so I knew she could write. I knew she offered humor and grace. I listen to her podcast, so I knew she had wisdom to impart. I knew she loves Jesus and always points readers and listeners to him.

My friend Sally, from church, was at the CiRCE convention and book release. She brought me a signed copy home. She handed it to me immediately before the organ prelude began the worship service. I didn’t get a chance to really get started until around 8.

The first thing I noticed was how beautifully the book was constructed. The cover is both beautiful to the eye and to the touch, smooth as butter. The pages are almost as luscious to the touch: heavy and smooth and to the eye: with a soft white color and easy to read font. CiRCE did a wonderful job producing their first book.

Cindy has written a beautiful book. A great deal of it is memoir – remembering her path. Always laced with humor and a point; she is excellent at telling the reader like it is, and then reminding them of God’s grace to remove any perceived sting. Her personality shines through, one of my favorite quotes – because it is just so Cindy – is “I never could understand why anyone would plant zucchini when they could plant larkspur.” (pg 54)

A great deal of it, though, is instructive born out of her experience. She learned some things educating 9 children at home (understatement), and she shares them with us.

Her voice is conversational and gentle, but don’t let that fool you. She is saying profound things, “That is how love works. You work hard at it and one day the work becomes joyful. Ordo Amoris.” (pg 81) and “Education is tethering our children to the past so that they are not adrift in the universe.” (pg 129)

The end, though, the end is a challenge. It is her story and a challenge born out of it. She tells us, here’s my life, here’s what I’ve learned, here’s where I believe God is calling me to go – won’t you come along?

I read it in one sitting (essentially, I had read through page 6 before I got home). Before I started, I decided to read it straight through without underlining or folding pages. I made it to page ix before I had to. Cindy reminded me, “God is real. He is there. He doesn’t just love your children; he loves you. I have been young, and now I am old, and I have not seen the righteous forsaken.” (pg ix, emphasis mine, I really needed to read that) I didn’t mark a whole lot more – maybe 7-8 passages, not because I couldn’t have marked things, but because I know I will return to this book again and again.

I knew I’d love Cindy’s book, but I didn’t expect I’d love it this much. I didn’t know it would have such a deep impact on me. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

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