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 sanctificationMere 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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8 Comments

  1. Such a great review – and you are a very fortunate friend!! I think I would have been just a wee bit distracted during the service with that book burning a hole in my bag… 😀 I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a copy, I need to place that order!

  2. I thought I would enjoy it because I love to hear whatever she has had to say on various podcasts. So I already convinced my book club to read it for our September book club and I ordered my copy on Friday. Now I'm seeing the reviews (yours and Sarah Mackenzie's) and wishing I had paid the extra money to ship it faster instead of media mail. Thank you for your great review!

  3. What a great review! I ordered mine Friday – like you, I've loved it since I knew it was coming out. I love listening to Cindy speak – she's so wise, and so humble. I can't wait to get my hands on the book.
    Melissa (Meadows, aka SwampyJo)

  4. I just finished it, and came looking on Google to see what others were saying. An instant classic for me that I will not loan out. I will start it again with a highlighter in hand. She articulated things Ive been feeling as a mother who has graduated one child, and is still homeschooling others. Going through this ushering a child into adulthood while homeschooling them has been a strange thing indeed, and her writing made me understand some things I've been feeling. Just wonderful, what a blessing!

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