Beloved & Blessed: Biblical Wisdom for Family Life ~ 10.29.10

Kimberly Hahn's lastest book in her series on Proverbs 31, Beloved and Blessed: Biblical Wisdom for Family Life, does not disappoint! I was really excited to get into this book and be encouraged and challenged in my vocation as a mom, wife and child of God and that is exactly what Kimberly did.
If you're not sure why Proverbs 31 is such an important chapter of Scripture to study and focus on, let me give you a little background. Kimberly gives us some background right in the introduction,
Proverbs 31 records the instructions of a queen mother to her son, King Lemuel, so that she can guide him as he selects a wife. She wants him to understand the characteristics of a godly woman, who can make the difference not only in his life but also in the well-being of the kingdom.

So in this last book of her series on Life Nurturing Love, she divides the book into six parts and delves into topics like intimacy with God and marital intimacy, dealing with infertility,the  finances, parenting, discipline, education and handing on the faith to our children. As always, Kimberly draws deep from the well of Scripture to teach and encourage us. So while this book is a great resource for those who are engaged, I think it is more geared to those already married and/or with children. I know it wouldn't hurt to read it if you're still in the beginning stages of dating or newly engaged. The beginning of the book would be a helpful guide to setting your marriage up for success in terms of understanding marital intimacy and the challenges we are presented with on the other side of our wedding day.

Here are a few of my favorite parts (and let me say that I've read through this several times already and each time I have NEW favorite parts!). Get ready for some gems of wisdom...

• • "when married couples do face challenges in lovemaking, it is not about having better sex- as though it were a thing to acquire. It is about loving your spouse better and reveling in intimacy" pg 15
  • "children are not the penalty you pay for enjoying sex. Nor is God the consummate spoilsport saying, you can have sex, but you are going to have to have children! Rather God allows us to enjoy intimacy in the depths of our physical union. AND he may gift us with a child as a fruit of that love-a bonus." 36
  • "we are to train our hearts -and others' hearts-- in truth!" 46
  • "the Proverbs 31 woman chooses contentment. She maintains calm self-possession, placing her trust in the Lord. In contrast to a fool who ignores wisdom and is destroyed, she "who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, wihtout dread of evil" (proverbs 1:33)" 101
  • "Mary is our spiritual mother and model disciple. How did she face an uncertain future? She gave consent to the will of God in a variety of ways.... her willingness to be available to do whatever God has called her to do. Mary chooses to serve without asking to be served...Mary follows the promptings of her heart and the word of the Lord throug her husband. Mary does not accompany Jesus everywhere he ministers, though others do. She supports him from a distance and binds her heart to his through prayer." 103-106
  • "The wife is key to the husband's leadership in the home. "A good wifes is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones." "(proverbs 12:4) 113-- this was in chapter 10 which I had a LOT of underlining... good stuff!
  • "We parent with firm convictions and S.O.F.T. hearts: Sacrificial love, Obedient heart, Forgiving heart, Thankful heart." 116
  • "Every interaction we have with our child is an act of formation. "Discipline your son while there is hope; do not set your heart on his destruction.""(proverbs 19:18) 121
  • "The goal of discipline is this: Teach a child to obey his parents so that he will yield his heart to God his Father... discipline is not a about parents controlling children but about their guiding children toward self control." 130
  • "As a parent, you have the authority to speak the truth in love to your children. You have access to the grace you need to overcome your fears about parenting... Jesus is the one who began this good work of parenting through you, and he will be faithful to complete it." 142
  • Chapter 12 was written specifically with me in mind, I'm sure. It's the one I keep going back to as it contains my greatest weaknesses. As it says in Prov. 31:26, "opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." I need grace in this area every minute and this chapter is full of how to make a home for the Word of God in our homes and in our children. And practical ways to share the faith in our domestic church (aka family).

  Even if you haven't read Kimberly's first 2 books in this series, that shouldn't stop you from picking this one up at all. Beloved and Blessed is filled with Scripture, Church teaching, personal anecdotes and motherly wisdom from a voice of experience, Kimberly Hahn.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Beloved and Blessed and be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts while you are there.