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.
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