Book Review: Out of the Spin Cycle by Jen Hatmaker

The subtitle of this book is: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load. I love it! And the cover picture of the clothesline is so appealing. I was impressed from the start.

I knew I was in for a ride when I saw the chapter titles. Here are a few of them:

My Kids Are Headed to Therapy
Nacho Average Bunny
A Half-filled Bag of Doritos
Garbage for Christmas
SAHM (Sleepy Anxious Hysterical Mama)
I'm Bringing Sexy Back

Out of the Spin Cycle reminded me of the book How Do You Tuck in a Superhero? (review here), also published by Revell. I laughed out loud while reading both of these. Here are a few exerpts, the first one funny, the second, serious:

"My friend Stephanie teaches third grade at an affluent school in Austin. During the first week of classes, a concerned father (read: crazy) cornered her and asked, 'What are you doing to prepare my son for Yale?' Quick on her feet and not in the mood for intimidation, Stephanie answered, 'Well, first I'm going to teach him to stop picking his nose and eating the plunder. Next up is walking in a straight line for more than five seconds. I'll be ready to write a recommendation to Yale by the end of the year, I'm sure.'"

"Some women have to work, some women want to work, somewomen work at home - and that's okay! It's all in the same bucket, and it's all valuable. Jesus gives you much grace for your role, so we should extend the same grace to each other. The question isn't, 'Right or wrong?' The question should be, 'Healthy or not?' None of us have the authority or perspective to make that call for another mom. God leads each of us in wisdom, and 'work' can look a thousand different ways. He alone completely understands your family, your circumstances, your gifts, and your season of life, so he alone gets to direct the path you take.

This book is quite encouraging, reminding moms that we don't have to be perfect, but we can rest in our Lord and in His perfect will for us and for our children. Mrs. Hatmaker said a lot of things that I would want to say to other moms, like keep going; allow your children to fail; and enjoy your children (TODAY!). It is a book loaded with Scripture as well as lots of practical application. She writes in a way that is personable and fun. And she doesn't talk down to you, but comes along beside you and offers to walk with you along this difficult path of motherhood.

I think any Christian mother would love this book!

Available June 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

(I received this book from Revell Books for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)