So God Made a Mother: Tender, Proud, Strong, Faithful, Known, Beautiful, Worthy, and Unforgettable--Just Like You

by Leslie Means

When God made a mother, he had you in mind.

Are you a mother?
Do you have a mother?
Do you know a mother?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, So God Made a Mother is for you.

Built around essays submitted by women of all ages and stages, So God Made a Mother utilizes the power of storytelling to speak straight to the heart. Leslie Means founded the popular website Her View From Home around the same idea: the world needs your story, no matter who you are. She uses her trademark conversational writing style to weave together a collection of emotional essays from Her View From Home contributors that will make you laugh, cry, nod along--and leave you wanting to call your mom.

Motherhood is defined by the way it remains utterly undefinable. No two mothers are alike. No two mothers' experiences mirror one another. Essays within the pages of this book could stand alone, to be sure--but something powerful happens when they come together: they speak love, worth, value, and beauty. They highlight tenderness, sorrow, joy, and faith. They take the undefinable experience of motherhood and give it shape and substance and strength.

Whether you are a mother, you have a mother, or you know a mother, So God Made a Mother promises to show you the incomparable heart of a mother . . . a mother just like you.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Christian Non Fiction, Audiobook

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2023

Reviews

[Amanda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My little boy just turned two weeks the other day. That fact has nothing to do with this book, but everything to do with why I requested to review this book and why it affected me so much. In fact, I usually leave all personal details of my life out of reviews, but this is a very personal book.
This book puts into words feelings I have, that I had no words for. No matter where you are at in motherhood you will find another woman to relate to within this book. It's such a blessing to know someone has been where you are and felt what you are feeling. The stories range from unspeakable loss to overwhelming joy and all of them will tug at your heart.
I would suggest this for anyone wanting to be a mother, any new mother, any long-time mother, and any grandmother. This book will be a blessing in any mother's life.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

[Amanda Podwinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many heartwarming stories of motherhood, both the beautiful and difficult.

[Tara Lawless · Rating 5 out of 5]

Social pressures of motherhood and life are extreme. This book is relatable and overwhelmingly comforting. I wish all mothers would read this and I think no matter their particular situation they would feel less alone or isolated by the wonders of motherhood! This is a book of the ages! Get it in print because you will want to read it many times and pass it down to your daughter or daughters-in-law.

[Nicole Sawatzky · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me almost a year to finish this one but every time I picked up this book I absolutely loved it. I found myself crying multiple times. Such a heartwarming book ❤️

[Mary Alphenaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this book was going to be good when I was balling on page 3. So God Made a Mother is a collection of mothering stories from a variety of bloggers, speakers, writers and social media influencers. It is very encouraging and inspiring. It has bunch of word of wisdom. Some of my favorites are -Listen for the gentle whispers from God in life. Know that motherhood is a series of transitions and learn to navigate change. That these children of mine are not an inconvenience or a burden or a disturbance to my life. They are a dream come true. The goal is to raise independent children who will grow up and become contributing members of society. This is motherhood. It’s the almost constant push and pull between wanting to move forward to the next stage and wanting to go back to the way it use to be.
There are so many good quotes in this book. I wrote a ton of them down in my notebook. Highly recommend!!

[Christene Nemetsky · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started and could not finish based on how cheesy some of the stories were. Cute concept, shorts stories for moms written by moms but it was boring.

[Sara Dangerfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a mom is amazing, hard, hilarious and worth every tear shed. This book epitomizes the life of motherhood in a way that encourages the reader, lifts their spirits, and pushes them onward. Before it was a book it was a community of women learning from each other and growing together, and now it’s available to share with a friend through the printed page. So glad it’s out there, and so glad I got to read it!

[Angel Caulfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful heartwarming book for ANY MOTHER! You will recognize yourself, your mother, your grandmother in these inspirational heartwarming touching stories.
I received a pre ordered audio copy. GET YOURS NOW! #sogodmadeagrandma #lesliemeans

[Laura Doyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, there was a lot about this book I enjoyed. But this was not what I was expecting when picking this one up. LOOK UP TRIGGER WARNINGS before diving into this one.

While there were some stories I was able to relate to in so many ways, there were so many stories that also made my anxiety a lot worse. There is a good deal of talk about pregnancy loss, infant loss, childhood sickness & loss, and even a case of a teen loss. While these are all real world things that could happen, it is the last thing I want to be reading about. While I think this book could help many, it only amplified my anxiety. Like I said, I could relate to many stories, but as I got deeper into the book, my anxiety just continued to skyrocket.

I can see why many others liked this one, but it was certainly not for me.

[Charissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! So many sweet, relatable essays about motherhood and how it truly comes to define your life in the most beautiful ways.

And that essay about your last baby? Sob! So beautifully, painfully true.

I love how the book addresses motherhood from so many different angles—the joy, grief, excitement, and most of all, the love. 💗

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ins of the very first stories I read had me in tears. I had a very similar story. Each and every story is from the heart, eloquently written, and leaves you feeling inspired. In a world with such darkness, this is a shining light. I highly recommend it!

[Angel Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring. Heartbreaking. Relatable. Encouraging. I cried happy tears and sad tears. It’s an incredible compilation of stories from mothers. Many stories I related to. Some were stories of situations I’ve never experienced. It was so good to hear both.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book reflecting all aspects of motherhood. How God made a mother Strong, Faithful, Beautiful,Unforgettable Worthy! A must for Mithers of any age . What a beautiful gift for Mothers Day! Include a box of tissues! All the essays are written by Moms who know the ups and downs of being a Mother! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Kelly Wendzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! Perfect for the pick up line at school or a quick “take a mom moment” book: packed with the joys, the mess, the good, the hard, and the in between. Relatable content makes you feel seen on your journey of motherhood.

[Emily Wiebold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real, raw and heartwarming. Pack your tissues.

[Leslie Elledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HIGHLY recommend this book. This book is full of the raw and joyous moments of motherhood.

[Joelle Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful collection of stories.

[Traci Rhoades · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of mothers in varying definitions and walks of life. I couldn't help but dog-ear those stories that spoke most clearly to my heart.

[Keisha Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing book! You start reading it and you can't put it down! So many relatable stories of motherhood in it.

[Kathy Wetsell]

I love Her View From Home, and even contribute to their site on occasion. I am so excited to read this compilation of stories from other moms!

[Michelle Wadholm · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sweet cousin Alyssa got me this book for Christmas and I have been slowly making my way through its stories. I think it’s a beautiful collection in that if you have experienced any facet of motherhood, you will find yourself in these pages.

I do, however, have one large critique. I don’t think it would have taken away from the collection to include trigger warnings before many of these stories. Even though the subject matter, in my opinion, was handled honestly and with tender care, there were quite a few stories in here that were traumatic, and if I had experienced those things very shortly before reading, this could have been a highly negative experience. Having a trigger warning before a story about stillbirth or childhood cancer, for example, could be beneficial for someone who is in the throes of that issue and might need some more prep before just diving into a 3-page story that slaps you in the face with that grief. I definitely don’t think we need to sugarcoat things (facing all of parenthood with honesty is so beneficial), but having some kind of preparation as to what actually lay ahead would have been helpful.

Overall, I think this was structured well and there were many stories I found very moving or showed me a mirror image of things I’m feeling now.
I do think that the care very obviously shown in the writing of the stories wasn’t necessarily shown in that structure.

[Rita Vondracek · Rating 5 out of 5]

So God Made a Mother is an engaging anthology that celebrates the voices of women who speak poignantly to seemingly all facets of motherhood. There is the brief essay “I’ll Love Every Version of You” in which author Krista Ward expresses a desire to love each stage of her child’s life. There are also essays, more retrospective in nature, in which writers such as Lori E. Angiel articulate the self-doubt that seems to go hand-in-hand with parenting.
Then, too, there are reflections on particular journeys by mothers in distinct situations. One is “Following My Child’s Lead” by Jacalyn Wetzel, a work detailing the obstacles and successes Wetzel and her daughter experience after the beloved daughter is diagnosed with severe autism.
Another more discrete journey is described by writer Kirstyn Wegner, who, with her husband, has created a family through adoption and foster parenting. Entitled “Braiding My Own Umbilical Cord,” Wegner’s essay is one of the book’s most touching pieces. It, like the other essays in the collection, are concise works of wisdom that offer comfort and respite to mothers, whether they are addressing the needs of a newborn or sending a child off to college. So God Made You a Mother is definitely worth reading and would make an especially thoughtful gift for any mother you know.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So God Made a Mother is truly a beautiful, inspiring, hopeful book. Organized into eight categories that describe mothers in all their glory -- tender, proud, strong, faithful, known, beautiful, worthy, and unforgettable -- these stories are powerfully written in a manner that would touch any mother's heart. In fact, I plan to purchase multiple copies of this book for my friends for Mother's Day for many years into the future! Spanning all stages and ages of motherhood, from pregnancy to empty nest, these stories are raw and real, and pull at the heart-strings, discussing difficult topics like pregnancy loss, depression and anxiety, and even the deaths of our own mothers. The stories are relatively short, making them easy to read in one sitting, even for the newest mothers, who might be juggling a lot and only getting a few minutes to read each day. Most importantly, these stories will remind each and every mother that she is not alone on her journey, that others have been there before, and will be there after, her and that she, too, will get through the very tough times. This beautiful book will always have a prominent place on my bookshelf.

[Sydnei Kaplan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful book will bless every mother, everyone who has a mother, and everyone who knows a mother. In other words, this book will bless YOU, no matter where you are on your motherhood journey, or if you've yet to begin that journey.

As a mom of a son who is about to graduate college and a daughter who is in her second year out of college and finding her way as a teacher, I found so much gentle and loving encouragement within the pages of this book. As a daughter who has both parents in heaven, I also found nourishing support from others who are walking this path of grief. I revisited past versions of myself as I read about moms embracing, loving, struggling and growing in all the earlier seasons of motherhood. Reading the stories within this book helped me to feel understood, not alone and cared for.

So God Made a Mother is a groundbreaking treasure of a book, and reading it will fill your heart and enrich your soul.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIVE STARS….. but …. make sure you’re in the right frame of mind to read or listen to this book! 😅

It is filled with stories (from various authors) about the joys, sorrows, heartbreak, beauty, and struggle of motherhood. I probably cried twenty separate times, and it took me the FULL two weeks of my library loan to finish listening to this book…which is unusual for me.

If I wasn’t crying because I was devastated by an author’s story of loss (grieving the loss of her pregnancy/child/husband/friend) I was crying because I know that my babies are going to grow up too quickly and that I’ll have trouble coping and miss the “little things” way too soon. I’m not ready. 🥹

The stories are beautiful AND heartbreaking. If you read or listen to this book, be READY to have all of the feels. It’s worth it, but it’s not a light, breezy read.

This book was written and compiled by Leslie Means, creator of the website (and Instagram profile!) Her View From Home, which I absolutely love.

[Wendy Stover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me a long time to read. The mix of heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking stories resonated deeply-I had to take it in small doses. When I began reading, I was going through some difficult times with my own teenagers. I found solace in the stories and a connection to other moms like me. The stories about toddlers and littles were lovely to read, and would cause tears (happy and sad) as I reflected on my own babies and who they have become. At one point in my reading, my 16 year old, 6'2", 230 lb. son walked in on me and asked why I was crying. "Because I don't remember the last time I carried you to bed," was my response. It prompted a deeper discussion as we tried to pinpoint the last time-at least the year and location. This collection is universally relatable and I recommend So God Made a Mother to any mommy, mama, mom, or bruh.

[Megan Flaherty Barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. Friggin’. Book. It was definitely not what I expected, but I mean that in the best way possible. I was brought to tears on so many occasions as I read through each woman’s story of heartache and joy, grief and love. It served as a much needed perspective shift - when things (specifically mothering) gets overwhelming, exhausting, lonely, and too much to bear - there is SO much room for grace, love, joy, and peace. A common theme in many stories was that we tend to not realize this until we’re older and beyond the mothering years, looking back and aching for our children to need us again as they once did. I’ve bookmarked several of my favorite stories and am looking forward to reading through them again when I need a fresh perspective, a giant dose of gratitude, and a reminder that these truly are the years!

[Amanda Dayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for every mother. It’s for the mother of a newborn. The mother of a toddler. The mother of a school-aged child. The mother of a teenager. The mother of an adult child. The mother of a child in heaven. I saw myself in the pages of this book. I saw past me, exhausted with little sleep or time for herself. I saw future me, navigating life with a child who doesn’t need me like he once did. I saw present me, enjoying the moments but knowing they go oh so fast. This book is relatable, comforting, encouraging, inspirational, and just beautiful. I cried, I laughed, I cried some more, and I nodded along thinking “yes, oh my God, this” over and over again. This book is absolutely a must read.

[Bethany Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowza! I’m still working on finishing this book and have already cried about half the time while reading! 🥲 As a mama who has 3 angel babies, 2 living babies and a (3x) rainbow baby on the way, I have felt so isolated and alone and lost in my own journey. My personal mission is to come alongside other mamas who have experienced pregnancy and/or infant loss and let them know that they aren’t alone. What a great, great resource to help! These stories are written by moms in all walks of life, sharing about everything they have experienced and truly - I think this communicates better than anything I’ve seen before that you aren’t alone and there are people to listen to you, and pray with you, and just BE with you!! Such a great book!!!

[Beth Orr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a collection of true stories and feelings about motherhood by mothers. There are 10 chapters with 8 dealing with each descriptive word in the title as well as an introductory chapter and a conclusion.
I wish I could have had this 49 years ago when I became a mother. I recommend this to anyone presently raising children and also to those of us who have long been empty nesters to help us when we start to beat ourselves up over past mistakes and misunderstandings.
The author also has a website called Her View from Home to which women write about their lives, their problems such as postpartum depression, utter exhaustion, feelings of being a failure at motherhood, anxiety, etc., and also about myriad blessings. Many of those stories found their way into this book.
I very much enjoyed listening to it.
Very good.