From a young age, I have been an avid reader. I adore the escape of getting lost in a good book-whether it be the excitement of a fictional world or the enveloping experience of seeing the world thru someone else's eyes via a good memoir. Growing up, it was very common for me to have stayed up half the night to finish that book that was just too good to put down. Then I grew up, got married, had kids and life's demands seemed to outweigh the value of curling up with a good read. But lately, I have intentionally been making time in my life to read, even if only for a few minutes a day. I find I am refreshed and more ready to tackle the everyday challenges of my life when I have stimulated my mind with an outside perspective and other's experiences thru a good book. My latest read has done just that and more- Making it home-Finding my way to peace, identity, and purpose by Emily T. Wierenga had me hooked from page one and I just had to keep reading to see where Emily's story took her.
As a young wife and mother doing my best to follow God's leading in my life and, somehow, be all that my family needs and deserves-I could so relate to Emily's joys and struggles. I found myself chuckling in understanding at the messy joys of motherhood and knowing the pain of wrestling thru some of the trials Emily shares about. I found connection with Emily's story thru our similar backgrounds and even current life chapters.
I really enjoyed the structure of this book-It is broken up into sections that correspond with different chapters and roles of Emily's life. It felt like an even more intimate read, getting to "know" Emily from her childhood onward and watching the journey to who she is today. We both grew up in Christian homes with imperfect, but loving parents who did the best they could to give us the foundation we needed for life. I could relate as Emily shared of having to find your own identity thru and even apart from your family and making your faith your own. She is painfully honest at times, about how even with all the best of intentions, sometimes parents let us down and how we can carry the fear of doing the same into the parenting of our own children. I really appreciated that Emily doesn't just leave the blame at her parent's feet though, but shares of their combined journey of forgiveness, grace and ultimate understanding.
I enjoyed the sweet glimpse into Emily's marriage to a good, Christian man who loves her unconditionally and leads her towards the Lord continually. I smiled as I saw so much of my marriage in their story- two young people, madly in love, growing up and figuring out life together. I saw reality and grace in her sharing of both her and her husband's weaknesses. How they sometimes hurt each other and fall apart but they always find their way back to each other; To me, that is what a good marriage is all about.
Emily's stories from the trenches of motherhood rang very true to me as that chapter of life is very much currently where I reside as the mother to 3 little boys. My heart felt her fears and triumphs as she shared of the exhausting privilege of raising her own boys. To shape little souls stretches you in a way I have never know before and Emily gives that experience a voice all mothers can understand.
Making it Home is filled with every day snapshots of Emily's life that she weaves together in such a way to convey a much bigger picture of what God has done in and thru her. I really appreciated her humble approach at sharing her heart with her readers. I don't necessarily agree with all of her spiritual views (I.E. God giving her specific, prophetic messages about her life) but it is her story to tell and she does it in a graceful way. Emily shares a quote from Susannah Welsey- "I am content to fill a little space if God be glorified." I feel that was Emily's message in sharing her life's story and it has been an encouragement to me as I am in the midst of filling my own little spaces.
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
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