Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline

So many people would tell me "it's going to go so fast" and "you will miss these days" as I carried two kids under two around town, one on each hip (literally!). I was SURE they had completely forgotten what the drudgery of endless menial tasks and constant screaming were actually like. I felt so unseen, unvaluable, and completely sidelined while the rest of the world seemed to keep moving. Still, God was absolutely doing something beautiful in me during that season. I was learning to serve, to pick up my cross, to be humble and quiet in ways I didn't even realize in the moment. Catherine recognizes all of those things, and she writes in such vivid detail that you can have confidence she hasn't forgotten the painful parts either! Without over-romanticizing motherhood for one second, she puts forward the whole messy picture (including all those weird relationships to our bodies we don't always have someone to say "me too" for). Even in the mess she is able to gently point out the things that glitter, the goodness and presence of God, and the ways we are changing to be more beautiful even on the days we have never felt less attractive. I wish I had this book 2 years ago when I felt so lost- these pages are such a phenomenal guide to the spiritual side of loooooong days of small things. I drove this book over to a friend's house the minute I finished it- because it belongs in the hands of mamas.

This book models what I believe so many Christians need: a theological framework for their daily lives. What McNeil does in this book is not "spiritual fluff" for tired moms, but akin to Brother Lawrence, helps us to locate the active presence of God in a very unseen and overlooked season of life. I read this book in community with three other new-ish moms who all bristle at most Christian mom resources, and we were blown away by this read. McNeil walks you through the reality that in a male dominated world, women's daily experiences in motherhood are oft periferal and seen as a "time out" in regards to true spiritual growth. But with so much grace and honor, she helps the reader to see that in fact, what babies and children bring is the kingdom of God: a crucible of spiritual growth in which the conditions are ripe for some serious encounters with Jesus. Very practically, she helps you to practice the presence of God not *in spite* of the diapers, the silence, the chaos, but right in the middle of it. What a beautiful orthodoxy and orthopraxis! An embodied theology...just as Jesus came into the middle of our mess and met us there. This book has pointed me to the God who transforms my daily life, and has helped me to fight the resentment of being "benched" spiritually for a season and to understand that what I am living is actually the throes of the game. Catherine, thank you. Thank you for the time and energy and wisdom you poured into these pages. May the mamas who are yearning to reconnect with their Source find living water through the practices you beautifully penned.

This book spoke to me so deeply and in such a refreshing, life-giving way. I love books it references — like Celebration of Discipline — but they always leave me feeling somewhat wistful and coming up short, because the reality of a picture-perfect, monk-ishly spiritual life is just not a reality in the early years of motherhood. This book immediately acknowledges that, and instead shines a light on the beauty, holiness, and spiritual disciples that are readily available in our lives, right here, right now. The author paints a beautiful picture of motherhood, opening my eyes to God’s intention and involvement in even the most mundane task. With equal parts poetry and practicality, she illuminates the absolute honor of motherhood and the many attributes of God that are illustrated in our work each day. I saw God in ways I never had before, bringing tears to my eyes at his intimacy with us, his humility, and his steadfast love. It gave me a whole new sense of purpose and appreciation for the stage of life I am in, and a renewed eagerness to glorify God in my role as a mother. I cannot recommend it enough, for those in the trenches, feeling as though their “adult life” is on pause until the kids are grown or that the duties of mothering and homemaking are something to just “get through”. It was a fresh breath of inspiration during this stage of life!

I've had 8 kids and read a lot of books on motherhood, and this is the one - the "Holy Grail" of Christian mothering books. Not because it gives me "10 easy steps to how to be the perfect mother" but because it opens my eyes to see how Christ is in every aspect of all the things I am ALREADY doing as a mother. This book offer so much grace while also encouraging us to draw closer to Him. It is the one I buy for all my mom friends, whether they are a new mom or have been doing it for years like me. I go re-read it every time I am feeling discouraged. Highly recommend.

I was intrigued when I came across this book. I read a snippet of it about needing to be seen and it resonated deeply. I immediately ordered the book, something I rarely do.But the farther I got into the book, the more I disliked it. There is a LOT of emphasis on the spiritual meaning she found in pregnancy, giving birth, breastfeeding, etc. While adoptive moms are mentioned a couple of times, it honestly felt like an afterthought, and whether she meant to or not, I felt "less than" while reading it. That's not something I normally feel as an adoptive mom, so it surprised me.As an adoptive mom twice over who has never been pregnant, given birth, breastfed, or parented infants, I just couldn't relate to the vast majority of the book. While there is some good stuff in here, I found myself skimming it just to finish it because it lost me during the "Incarnation" chapter. I regretted purchasing it.

Very encouraging book - encapsulates the principles of what is often known as mindfulness in a Christian setting and how to turn our every day lives as mothers into spiritual disciplines. Encourages you to feel that your often noisy chaotic life as a mother of small children is where God is, rather than making you feel guilty that you have no quiet time to connect with God in. I found it helpful to hear someone else voice the thought processes I have as a mother of small children. Thank you to Catherine McNiel for writing this book

I barely got halfway through this book when I knew I had to send this to my cousin in Australia who is also a mom of 2 littles. This book is a balm for the soul. There's nothing I love more than being a mother but it's easy to lose perspective sometimes in the midst of all the little day to day and day in and day out activities. This book really hit home for me, the meaning of motherhood and I am forever grateful. Something I will read again and again and again.

Got it for my daughter who has 2 little ones. She loves it, so I love it.