Mindset for Moms, Stay at Home Mothering

Surround Yourself by Great Thoughts from Great Minds

January 26, 2015 by Bethany No Comments

Photo Credit: jepoirrier via Compfight cc

In the age of the internet, it’s hard to tell the good writing from the twaddle. Truth is ill defined and thus everywhere and yet nowhere. But surrounding yourself with the thoughts of great minds, especially people faith, is hugely beneficial.

This doesn’t always mean reading the classics, though that doesn’t hurt. Sometimes my brain can only handle classic literature in small increments. That’s one reason why I really enjoyed this book in college.

It was a text book in my Foundations of Christian Spirituality Class. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t finish the whole book. But every few years I try it again. It takes experts from great writers and thinkers of the faith and breaks them into digestible chunks. This will probably be the next book I tackle during my nighttime reading.

For a long time I felt guilty that at night I wanted to read something for pleasure rather than do an in depth Bible study. Yet, I found that reading before bed was crucial to helping my brain unwind. So I compromised. I am slowly working my way through books that I think will help me strengthen my faith, in addition to scripture. I’m currently almost done with Victory Over the Darkness: Realize the Power of Your Identity in Christ by Neil T. Anderson. I don’t read a whole chapter, sometimes just a few pages. Then I give myself some time to read a book for pleasure. I just finished Mobbed by Carol Higgins Clark. It’s easy, light fluffy mystery reading where there is usually a happy or at least satisfactory ending. Next I’m starting Stealing the Preacher which was a Christmas gift from my husband. I had an opportunity to review the first book in Witemyer’s series and I’m pleased to be able to follow the continuing saga, even though it isn’t my usual fare.

By having both a spiritual non-fiction and a fiction book going at the same time I’m able to nourish my soul and entertain my mind; all while helping my body relax enough to get a good night sleep. So please, make the time to read in your life. Even just a few pages here and there. When you feel overwhelmed by life or overloaded by opinions in the internet age, return to the wisdom of the past and find rest there.