BookLook May 2015

By Debbie Balzotti

Review of “Contentment: Inspiring Insights for LDS Mothers” by Maria Covey Cole

Mother’s Day -it’s the hap-happiest day of the year – to twist a popular holiday song phrase. It really can be a day to show love and gratitude for the mothers in our lives.

After the flowers have wilted and candy wrappers are discarded, be sure mom has a good book to read. I chose “Contentment: Inspiring Insights for LDS Mothers” as my Mother’s Day gift for my three amazing daughter-in-laws this year. They deserve a week at an all-inclusive resort but this great little book will have to do.

“May we find contentment in motherhood as we come to understand and embrace our divine mission,” entreats author Maria Covey Cole. Even using the word contentment in the same sentence as motherhood seems like using it out of context.

Webster defines contentment as a state of happiness and satisfaction. Motherhood often seems more like a state of exhaustion and discouragement. How is contentment possible? Maybe by redefining the word and looking for those moments. 

Cole writes, “I have learned contentment is not complacency, mediocrity, smugness, or settling for something less.” She encourages mothers to cherish the ordinary moments of daily life. Holding a newborn baby, chasing a toddler around the house, and walks and talks with older children are a few of those simple but significant moments that can bring us feelings of contentment.

The book is filled with a collection of inspirational quotes and stories. One of my personal favorites from George Bernard Shaw was shared near the beginning of the book. “Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

Daniel Webster is responsible for defining contentment as a state of happiness and satisfaction. He also gave us this thought on gaining the necessary perspective for women to remember that what they do as mothers will be their greatest legacy.

“If we work upon marble, it will perish. If we work upon brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble into dust. But if we work upon immortal minds, and instill into them just principles, we are then engraving on that tablet that which no time will efface, but will brighten and brighten to all eternity.”

This Mother’s Day we can all show appreciation for the mothers we know. Let’s recognize their heroic efforts with more than a quick stop at the grocery store on Saturday night to purchase a card. Let’s write a letter of gratitude that will brighten their day and express our love. Of course you can tuck that letter in a good book, add flowers and chocolates and make it even better.

Contentment: Inspiring Insights for LDS Mothers by Maria Covey Cole is available at Cedar Fort Publishing in Springville and at amazon.com.