How Are You Feeling, Momma? (You don't need to say, "I'm fine."): Authentic & Encouraging Psalm Reflections on the Many Emotions of Motherhood

by Shelby Spear, Lisa Leshaw

The simple question, "How are you feeling, Momma?" wins the prize for the most loaded inquiry in the history of all things motherhood. As moms, we've concocted a gazillion ways to dodge and deflect the question to avoid giving an honest answer. A trite "I'm fine" keeps the heaviness of authenticity from mucking up our everyday living.


Yet, the truth is, beneath our facade of content are countless felt needs just begging for healing and resolution. Motherhood is full of competing emotions that sap our energy on the regular. We often choose to ignore our feelings because if we give them room to breathe, scary things can happen. One of which is a complete unraveling of all the 'fake it until you make it' holding us together. Who wants to risk coming undone when we're already on 'overwhelmed mother' status? But trying to side-step our reality by not being genuine only adds to the emotional weight we carry because of the missed opportunities to unburden our heart.


The good news is God is ready and willing to listen to how we feel. He already knows our heart anyway. His presence never leaves us, which means the availability God has on any given day to hear our prayers, pleadings, worries, and fears is all of time and eternity. It seems like the Hebrews took full advantage of this truth back in the day when you consider the Psalms. Turns out all the "Why, God?", "Why not, God?", "When, God?", "How, God?", and "Are you sure, God?" questions hanging in the air thousands of years ago still resonate in our heart space today.


How Are You Feeling, Momma? is a collection of 31 short reflections giving you a peek into the inner life of Shelby and Lisa as they share all the emotions they've grappled with as moms over the course of many years. You will find comfort in knowing you are not alone in how you feel, as mom emotions are universal to all. In each chapter, you will read two perspectives on a specific emotion and corresponding Psalm scripture. One captures the emotion from Shelby's experience as a Christian mom and the other from Lisa's vantage point as a Jewish step-mom and grandma.


Motherhood is hard, and the emotions moms deal with on any given day are universal. Shelby and Lisa's words draw from deep wells of inexperienced experiences in hopes of bringing relief and encouragement to Moms everywhere. With vulnerability and a hefty dose of wit, Shelby and Lisa


Inspire you to lean into and get real about your mom feelings
Give you two perspectives on each emotion through both a Jewish and Christian lens
Encourage you to feel comforted in knowing you aren't alone in how you feel
Help you connect the pleadings in the Psalms to the pleadings in your soul


While on paper, these two would appear to be polar opposites, ironically, their differences are the adhesive that binds them in this joint effort to give moms some spiritual uplift while in the trenches of motherhood. A serendipitous online encounter brought them together, and these two are living proof that despite differing views, background, and culture when it comes to God all things are possible through love. And when it comes to motherhood, all of us are in this together.

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 25, 2019

About the author

A self-described “sappy soul whisperer and sarcasm aficionado,” Shelby Spear is a wife of 27 years and a mom of three 20-something kiddos who has a deep love for Jesus and storytelling. Most days she muses in rhetorical wonder over what God was thinking when He put her in charge of three humans. Although God’s quick to remind her how capable she is, apparently He sometimes does so while crossing His fingers behind His back.

Now that she and her husband, John, are in a season of empty nest, Shelby spends her days writing about all the ways motherhood has shaped, transformed, inspired, and aged her. You’ll find her stories in the national publication, Guideposts, and all over the web at places like Her View From Home, For Every Mom, Today, Love What Matters, and others. She is also the loving and goofball hostess of a growing family of friends on her blog at shelbyspear.com and across social media outlets.

While John and her children graffiti her soul, all things chocolate melt her heart. Music stirs her like no other, crying fulfills her, and a love of sports keeps her competitive streak alive. Some of her favorite things in life are books, yoga, This Is Us, and a comfy pair of jeans—most notably the stretchy kind. Denim defines her in a bluesy kind of way.

Reviews

[Traci Rhoades · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes the heart-felt Psalms, and makes them personal. I love that it’s written from the perspective of both a Jewish woman and a Christian woman. A beautiful nod to the fact that the Psalms belong to all mamas.

[Christine Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shelby Spears and Lisa Leshaw have combined their writing gifts, their two walks of faith, and their generous love for helping moms to offer you much-needed nourishment through helpful advice, inspiring Biblical truths, and an intimate view into their own well-worn experience as mothers.

SUCH a beautiful, inspiring, and encouraging read.

I highly recommend this for any mom at any stage of parenting. It would also make a fantastic gift.

[Nina LC · Rating 5 out of 5]

When major empty nest depression hit me, this is the book that got me through one day at a time. It is a must-have.

[Sharon VanAllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Very do-able chapters to finish the book in a month. Relevant for all mommas.