Moms of the Bible: Life-Changing Lessons from the Fearless, Flawed, and Faithful

The women of scripture can serve as valuable examples for those enduring motherhood’s trials, according to this cheery collection of parenting advice. Old Ladies Know Stuff podcaster Stoppe (The Marriage Mentor) unpacks what readers can learn from a pantheon of biblical moms, such as Mary, whose strength in the face of communal judgment after she announced her immaculate pregnancy reminds believers that parenting difficulties can spur godly growth, and Esther, whose integrity and bravery in the face of danger may have rubbed off on her stepson Ataxerxes, who exhibited notable “compassion for the Hebrew people” during his rule. Examples not to follow include Lot’s wife, whose disregard of angels’ warnings to escape Sodom without looking back reminds readers to “trust God through the ups and downs of life” and thereby set a positive example for their children. While the biblical analyses can feel forced, the author weaves in valuable parenting wisdom of her own, like being honest when one doesn’t know the answers to their kids’ questions and realizing that less is more when it comes to parental advice. The result is an earnest and upbeat, if somewhat familiar, set of reassurances for moms of faith. (Mar.)