The Simple Wife is having a discussion on the book Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt. I have owned this book for several years and have read it many times. It's one of those books that I like to frequently reread. I have found myself in different seasons of life during these rereads and am anxious to read through the thoughts of the various women who will be posting.The following questions were given:
1. Susan Hunt defines spiritual mothering as this: "When a woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman in order to encourage and equip her to live for God's glory." What stands out to you in this definition? Why? Does this seem different from a typical mentoring definition? Why, or why not? What stands out to me are the three words at the end - for God's glory. Those words are what make the difference in all that we do. So often we want quick and easy answers to our problems, a simpler life, happiness, etc., but our focus often needs to be redirected back to God's glory. We need less of "What's in it for me?" and more of "How can I bring glory to God?"
2. Beginning on page 18, Hunt talks about our need for mothering. How do you see this need among women you know? In your own life? In my own life I have been blessed to have been raised by a godly mother who has taught me a lot. Also, I am part of a close-knit church where the women share their lives with each other. This close contact has taught me many valuable lessons. We've had some dear elderly ladies who have been great examples to our whole church body. Unfortunately, many women do not see the need in their own lives or value the life experience of older women.
3. What's something that you underlined, highlighted, circled, starred, or drew arrows to in this chapter? Why did it stand out to you?
My attention was drawn to the portion under the heading "Our Capacity for Mothering." The author stated: "As a woman's growing desire to imitate God produces obedience to His Word, she develops mothering characteristics. Our femaleness gives us the capacity for mothering; our faith produces certain characteristics of mothering." These characteristics are such things as compassion, sacrifice, and desire to nurture. Interestingly, when a woman grows in her relationship with the Lord, the overflow of that is a growth in her relationship with others. (We are not an island!)
2. Beginning on page 18, Hunt talks about our need for mothering. How do you see this need among women you know? In your own life? In my own life I have been blessed to have been raised by a godly mother who has taught me a lot. Also, I am part of a close-knit church where the women share their lives with each other. This close contact has taught me many valuable lessons. We've had some dear elderly ladies who have been great examples to our whole church body. Unfortunately, many women do not see the need in their own lives or value the life experience of older women.
3. What's something that you underlined, highlighted, circled, starred, or drew arrows to in this chapter? Why did it stand out to you?
My attention was drawn to the portion under the heading "Our Capacity for Mothering." The author stated: "As a woman's growing desire to imitate God produces obedience to His Word, she develops mothering characteristics. Our femaleness gives us the capacity for mothering; our faith produces certain characteristics of mothering." These characteristics are such things as compassion, sacrifice, and desire to nurture. Interestingly, when a woman grows in her relationship with the Lord, the overflow of that is a growth in her relationship with others. (We are not an island!)
Hopefully you will have a chance to hop on over to The Simple Wife this week as the topic of Spiritual Mothering is discussed!!
Summer ended with my oldest daughter and her family heading back on the road with Bible Revival Ministries. Three days later our nest was empty as my other two went off to college. It's been very different around here with a quiet house, but I'm looking forward to getting back into teaching a Ladies' Sunday School class & working with the children's groups on Wednesday nights. My new job is keeping some of my time filled and I'll be doing the pre-school story time at the library as well as regular library responsibilities...should be fun!