Mama Smith Reads... Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic

Hello, dear friends and readers!

Wow! These last few months have been quite a ride! As we approach my son's first birthday (how did that happen?!?), I wanted to share with you one of the (very few) books I've managed to read recently.

Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches is written by Rachel Jankovic. She is a mother of seven littles, at present -- although she only had five children when this book was published. Utilizing short, vignette-like chapters, Jankovic shares lessons she has learned while mothering her kiddos. She often employs word pictures or simple, useful analogies in order to illuminate her meaning.

What I loved: Ohmygoodness... Where do I even begin? I ADORED this book, from cover to cover!

Not only is it a quick read -- although I savored it for as long as I could -- but Jankovic's conversational tone and warmth of expression, combined with her fun sense of humor, make reading this book a pure delight. She quite obviously cares very, very deeply for her family, and I found myself both awed and humbled by the profound love revealed in her writing.

Two particular points in this book stuck with me.

First, Jankovic makes an analogy regarding fruitfulness. She discusses how apple trees produce numerous apples every year, dropping their fruit indiscriminately. They aren't calculating or efficient about it. Much of their fruit will never be enjoyed in a warm, baked pie or pressed into cider. Jankovic likens the abundant and yet forgotten fruit of the apple trees to our own "fruit" as mothers. God commands us to be fruitful, she asserts, but He doesn't necessarily show us the direct results of our fruitfulness all the time. As long as we are obedient in producing the fruit, He will use it for His glory. We need only continue faithfully working and being fruitful.

Secondly, Jankovic writes about self-sacrifice in the daily life of a mom. Although I don't have a copy of her book in front of me, I think the phrase she repeats is, "my life for yours." In every situation, she examines her service to her children in light of this reality: God has given her the privilege and responsibility of laying her life down for her children. This concept deeply encouraged me to see my daily life through the lens of the gospel.

 When I consider the book as a whole, each chapter made me think and feel something new about motherhood. I started to anticipate the stages to come for my own baby and contemplate the ways in which I need to grow as his mama. And yet, through her writing, Jankovic manages to convict without adding guilt or condemnation. She winsomely articulates her faith in Christ, offering insight with an open hand rather than shoving anything down the reader's throat. She is no legalist. Her convictions emerge from a purity of faith that has no doubt been hard-fought through years of walking with Jesus, encountering the challenges and joys of life as a wife and mom. She is the kind of writer you would love to have as a dear friend.

What frustrated me: In all honesty, I found nothing frustrating about this book. The only notes I could possibly have in this category involve the length and personal relevance.

I kinda wish the book had been longer! I could have enjoyed it for a more extended reading period. Also, pertaining to my second point, my son is not yet in the age category to which she refers most frequently. But neither of these comments have direct, negative bearing on Jankovic's book. It is truly an excellent read.

Who this book is for: The mom who feels discouraged, drained, and in need of some hope would certainly benefit from (and enjoy!) this book. Jankovic revives the reader's perspective on the meaning and value of motherhood, and she does so with style, grace, and a few delightful chuckles, as well.

Conclusion: If you'd like to try it out for yourself, borrow Loving the Little Years from your local library. And then maybe buy a copy -- for you and for any new mama (or seasoned mama) who may enjoy it! You can find it on Amazon or Canon Press' website.


Thank you, once again, for visiting my blog! If you enjoyed this book review, please feel free to let me know what you liked most about it. Do you have suggestions for improvements to this format? Or do you have some book ideas for future reviews? Please message me through the Mama Smith Writes page on Facebook with your suggestions, or comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Soli Deo Gloria

- Mama Smith

Cover photo courtesy of https://www.christianbook.com/loving-the-little-years-motherhood-trenches/rachel-jankovic/9781591280811/pd/227568