Motherhood

Do you ever get the sense that you’re stuck on autopilot as a mother? That day follows day, and you’re just going through the motions while life rushes past?

In this warm, insightful book, Jocelyn Loane asks us to pause for a moment to consider the immense privilege and responsibility before us as mothers. With grace and humor, Jocelyn shows us how the gospel shapes the big priorities as well as the nitty-gritty moments of motherhood. She offers:

• wisdom for the daily dilemmas and difficulties mothers face
• practical ideas for gospel-shaped discipline
• realistic suggestions for prayer and Bible times
• profound truths to cling to when motherhood feels overwhelming.

Whether you’re a new mother or a seasoned parent, this book will refresh your heart and equip you for the extraordinary gospel opportunities still ahead of you.

• Foreword
• The purpose of Christian motherhood

Part 1: Principles and priorities

• 1. Good gifts
• 2. Love
• 3. Forgiven sinners
• 4. Obedience and discipline
• 5. Discipline in practice
• 6. Prayer
• 7. Disciple-making
• 8. Mothers, not fathers

Part 2: Decisions and difficulties

• 9. Mum guilt
• 10. Paid work and ministry
• 11. Idols and identity
• 12. When motherhood is hard
• Recommended resources
• Acknowledgements

Jocelyn Loane has served alongside her husband, Ed, in various full-time ministries over the years, but one of her most important roles is being ‘Mum’ to their five children. Jocelyn also serves as a chaplain to female students at Moore Theological College, Sydney.

Some parenting books can be burdensome, leaving us feeling overwhelmed with a list of things we ought to be doing. Not this book! It refreshed my joy in the privilege of being a mother and made me eager to apply the practical, biblical wisdom Jocelyn Loane shares in each chapter. In a world of competing ideas about how to parent well, Jocelyn points us to the best and only true source for confident parenting: the wisdom of God as revealed in his word. I hope many mothers at every stage of parenting will read this!

Jackie Gibson, Author, You Are Still a Mother: Hope for women grieving a stillbirth or miscarriage

This book was so good for me to read—even though I’m not a mother myself. It is packed with biblical truths and affirming of everything it means to be a woman in Christ. Motherhood is esteemed but not idolized. Advice is real and practical. Siren voices from the secular world can be loud, but this book speaks liberating gospel wisdom into the ups and downs of all that it means to be a mother.

Chapters are short with helpful discussion questions at the end. This book is ideal for reading slowly and discussing with friends, whatever your stage of motherhood, or even if you are not a mother yourself.

Lizzie Ling, Minister (Women), St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford, UK

The endless parenting advice put forth in our social media age can be overwhelming, but Jocelyn Loane encourages Christian mothers by keeping the main thing central. While offering biblically grounded wisdom on a host of practical parenting issues, she repeatedly brings readers back to the gospel. Jocelyn writes with honesty, humility and humour as she shows us how the good news of Jesus Christ infuses our mothering with purpose and hope. As a mom in the trenches with four boys at home, this book spurred me on in seeking to raise disciples of Jesus, while still entrusting my children to him. Regardless of the season of motherhood you’re in, this book will be a helpful resource, and I highly recommend it.

Sarah Rice

Pastor’s Wife, Huntsville, Alabama; Author, Gospel-Shaped Womanhood: How losing yourself and finding your identity in Christ changes everything

As a women’s ministry director, there are precious few books on motherhood that I feel comfortable recommending to our church family. Many, if not most, set unrealistic expectations and view motherhood as the ultimate end goal, while others treat the job too casually. So I was thrilled to find that Jocelyn Loane’s book does exactly what her tagline promises: she shows how the gospel shapes our purpose and priorities in motherhood. This is not a how-to manual or a prescriptive manifesto. Rather, Jocelyn handles the topic of motherhood with humility and sincerity, all the while keeping an eye on the one who made us mothers in the first place. I heartily recommend getting this resource into as many hands—both young and old!—as possible.

Beth Harrell, Women’s Ministry Director, Old North Church, Canfield, Ohio

This is a delightful book. It is soaked in Scripture and written by someone living in the trenches of motherhood. Full of grace, wisdom and a wonderful ability to laugh at herself, Jocelyn delivers numerous practical examples that flesh out the principles without being overly prescriptive. Reading this will help you think richly about a biblical portrait of motherhood and walk away rejoicing in the opportunity to live out God’s grace in some of your most precious relationships. Dads will be greatly blessed by reading it too, and better equipped to encourage the mums in their life. We highly recommend it.

Paul and Cathy Grimmond, Dean of Students/Faculty Wife, Moore Theological College, Sydney

In the pages of this book, you will hear the voice of a wise, warm and genuine Christian friend who presents a vision for motherhood that is shaped by Scripture, grounded in the gospel and lived out faithfully (not perfectly!) in her own life. You will be encouraged, inspired and equipped as Jocelyn Loane shows you what the Bible has to say about the eternally significant vocation that God has given to Christian mothers. Jocelyn manages to hold out God’s ideals for family life in a way that remains realistic and compassionate; she brings balance and grace even to the most heated and divisive topics. If you truly believe that God’s word can make you “equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:17), including the good work of motherhood, then this book is for you.

Harriet Connor, Author, Big Picture Parents: Ancient wisdom for modern life and Families in God’s Plan: 12 Foundational Bible Studies; Editor, Parenting in God’s Family: Biblical wisdom for navigating everyday issues

While I’ve never had children, I’ve watched lots of friends navigate the beauty and challenge of being mothers. Jocelyn Loane’s book helps us in the privileged yet complex world of motherhood, providing great wisdom through the lens of biblical principles. At the same time, Jocelyn recognizes that raising children isn’t linear and comes with many ups and downs. Her personal anecdotes assure us this is someone who continues to ‘walk the walk’. I believe this book will be a tremendous resource for those seeking to be intentional in helping their children grow to know and love Jesus.

Kara Hartley, Archdeacon for Women’s Ministry, Anglican Diocese of Sydney

I wish this book had been written when I became a mother 54 years ago! It has many treasures in it to help address the myriad issues of motherhood.

It is a deeply personal book. Jocelyn Loane’s writing style is very accessible as she takes the reader through her own mothering experience—practically, biblically and theologically. Her illustrations and examples confront the issues we all face and have to think through. I was taken back to my family’s Bible reading after our evening meals and the challenge that presented. I love the way Jocelyn works through the practicalities of family life, and her honesty about the struggles and decisions she and Ed have made.

It is a challenging read as well. It is much more than a handbook on raising a family: it’s an encouragement for the reader’s relationship with Christ in all she does in her marriage and family circumstances. Even now as a great grandmother I have benefited from reading Jocelyn’s book.

Christine Jensen, Member of the Order of Australia; Former President, Mothers Union Sydney

The mums I know and love hear so many different voices telling them what it means to be a good mum, and it’s just exhausting. What a blessing it is to have such words of wisdom in this thoughtful, practical gem of a book. Jocelyn Loane knows what it is like to raise children in today’s world, and the struggles, questions and challenges that she relates will resonate deeply with mums. I’m confident that as they read, mums will have their eyes lifted to the Lord Jesus, full of grace and truth, and so be better equipped to lead their children in worshipping him alone.

Hannah Blake, Women’s and Children’s Minister, St Nicholas Church, Sevenoaks, Kent, UK

Jocelyn Loane’s Motherhood is full of grace for Christian mothers. This is primarily because her focus is on who they and their children are in God’s eyes. However, it is also because the reader gets the sense that Jocelyn is walking alongside them, encouraging them in the gift and responsibility they have. It is a warm, relational and beautifully written book. Sharing honestly about her own experience as a mother, Jocelyn offers practical help and touches on common feelings and issues that mothers experience. Motherhood manages to provide both comfort and challenge because it is Christo-centric. It helps readers remember that mothering matters to God; therefore, he has a purpose for it and is always with them as they love and care for their children. This book helps you experience God’s kindness in Christ and want to live in response to that, in all the ups and downs of living this side of the new creation.

Jane Tooher, Lecturer, Ministry and Church History; Director, The Priscilla & Aquila Centre, Moore Theological College, Sydney; Co-author, Embracing Complementarianism: Turning biblical principles into positive church culture

What a joy this book is! Jocelyn Loane combines a rich theological understanding with relatable warmth and humility as she shares her own mothering journey. She lifts our eyes from autopilot to see the beautiful place that God has ordained for motherhood in his eternal plans, whilst also walking arm-in-arm with us through the everyday experiences this brings. Jocelyn bravely draws us to consider issues we often skirt past, but with such empathy and grace that we are encouraged afresh to bring all areas of our motherhood to Jesus. As a mum of four, I felt seen and understood as I read this book but, far more significantly, my heart was warmed afresh to see my God who knows, sees, understands, forgives, changes and loves both me and my children far more abundantly than I could ever ask or imagine.

Alice Brown, Ministry Wife, Durham, UK

Jocelyn Loane has written a heart-warming and empowering primer on Christian motherhood. With her experience as a mother of five children—including a set of twins!—she is no stranger to the struggles and she empathizes with the daily weariness of mothering. The author’s conviction that God’s word is true, good and useful underlies every paragraph. The result is a vision of motherhood infused with joy and thankfulness, despite the hardships of living in a fallen world. I wish I could have read this book when I first became a mum over twenty years ago. But even now, this book brought biblical clarity on my own mothering and is a concise resource as I walk alongside younger mums—training them in the good work of loving their children (Titus 2:3–5).

Readers of this book will be left with a practical vision for a mother’s love, framed by God’s love for the world.

Isobel Lin, Chair, EQUIP Women’s Conference; Chaplain, Moore Theological College, Sydney

Steeped in Scripture, Motherhood provides an encouraging reminder of our primary role in raising our children to be disciples of Christ. With a clear focus on the gospel and our identity in Jesus, Jocelyn Loane encourages us to delight in our children as we seek to win their hearts for him. She handles an extensive range of issues, including controversial ones, in a non-judgemental way with godly wisdom and pastoral sensitivity. As God’s word is clearly explained, Jocelyn both encourages and challenges us, providing helpful guidance and showing us how this has worked out in practice in her own family. Her humility is clear throughout this deeply biblical book as she keeps pointing us to Jesus and the forgiveness he freely offers. I have had the privilege of watching Joc (and Ed) raise five wonderful children and am excited that she has been persuaded to share her wisdom with us in this book.

Kathryn Thompson, Principal’s Wife, Moore Theological College, Sydney; Business and Finance Director, Church Missionary Society NSW & ACT

Whether a new mum or a bit more experienced, it’s great to pause and reassess our parenting priorities. This book on motherhood will help you to do just that.

Jocelyn Loane looks at the principles of parenting with lots of biblical wisdom and a peppering of practical advice throughout as well. She has a lovely, honest approach, and she manages to combine being nuanced and careful without being afraid to tackle the trickier topics such as paid work and discipline!

The added bonus of questions at the end of each chapter really helps to embed the content and gives a great starter for prayers and discussion if reading with friends.

Anna Putt, Ministry Wife and Assistant Head Teacher, Oxfordshire, UK; Trustee, Keswick Ministries