Heaven In Her Arms - Book Review

Did you ever give thought to what it would really be like to be Mary, the mother of Jesus? To give birth to a baby boy, knowing that God had a divine, huge purpose for His life. And to be chosen as a poor, humble, unwed teenage girl to take on the responsibility of raising the future Savior of the world? Could it be that God chose a humble, teenage girl from poor standings to be the mother of the Savior of the world so that the whole world would be able to relate to Him?

God chose Mary because He knew her heart. And He knew that her heart was in the right place to accept the challenging calling He had for her as well as to remain obedient in seeking Him throughout it. God knew that Mary had what was needed for the mission, even if she herself did not know it.

In Heaven in Her Arms: Why God Chose Mary to Raise His Son and What It Means for You, Catherine Hickem, offers an assumed glimpse of the life of Christ through the eyes of His mother, Mary. How did it really feel to be possibly ostracised by friends and family because of a pregnancy out of wedlock (because how many people would have really believed that this young girl of humble provisions would really be chosen by God Himself to bring forth the Messiah from her womb?)

What was it like to raise a sinless, perfect child? How did the knowledge of Jesus' future sit in the depth of her soul for those 30 years prior to the start of His ministry? And how did she live through the tormenting death her Son suffered for not only the sins of the world but also her very own sins?

This was an enjoyable glimpse into what it might have been like to have been Mary. But in addition to these little glimpses into Mary's heart, Hickem also spends a large majority of her book applying Mary's life and ways of mothering to us as modern-day mothers. Using Mary as an example, Hickem encourages and inspires mothers today to fulfill their calling as mothers as God designed us to do.

Topics discussed (from the table of contents): Mary Knew God Looks at the Heart; Mary Knew She Couldn't Embrace Her Fears; Mary Knew God as Master Designer; Mary Knew She Could Ask Questions; Mary Knew She Could Not Parent Jesus On Her Own; Mary Knew Her Life Was Not Her Own; Mary Knew She Needed Support; Mary Knew Faith Would be Her Witness; Mary Knew to Have a Heart of Praise; Mary Knew Being a Mother Would Take Her to Difficult Places; Mary Knew She Needed to Ponder; Mary Knew Obeying God Would Have Its Rewards; Mary Knew to Be There When Things Got Tough; Mary Knew She Would Have to Let Her Son Fulfill His Purpose; Mary Knew to Stay Connected; Mary Knew to Trust God with All Things and with Her Child; Mary Knew to be a Woman of Prayer.

There is also a study guide included in the back of this book.

This was an encouraging book that exposed to me some of how God must feel towards me as a woman and a mother. This book if full of great little reminders of our value as women and mothers in God's eyes. And also a great reminder of the importance that God places on us as mothers. This book also stressed the importance of putting our value and importance in how God sees us first. And then when we do this, we are better equipped to parent our children.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.*