Customer Reviews

Grace for the Race: Meditations for Busy Moms

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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As a mom of five, it's so great to find an author who understands my sprint. Dena Dyer has put together a dynamite book of motherly meditations. Moms, grab your latte (though we all know most busy mothers have to settle for a quick half-cup of luke warm instant coffee-like-product) and pick up GRACE FOR THE RACE. You'll find warm chuckles and some helpful "ah-ha" moments as you head for the finish. Great book!

Dena's book was the perfect thing to read in the car with my 3 kids. She has a way of making the reader understand that all moms go through struggles- even the ones who make it look so easy. I couldn't turn to the next story quick enough. I can't wait for her next book to come out

Dena's reflections on life as a young mother bring your own daily challenges into focus. She shares her heart. She shows her heart. This book is written in a way that you can easily pick up where you last left off. The chapters are small enough that you don't need alot of time to read them, yet long enough to inspire you to challenge your toddler to a broccoli duo!!! Awesome wife, mother and author!!

Grace for the Race is a great book for moms. Dena is a super writer whose wit and wisdom really shine.

No matter what season of mothering you're in, GRACE FOR THE RACE offers something to encourage you. If you're pregnant, maybe you can relate to Dena who says, "As I write this, I'm seven months pregnant with our second child, and I have a confession: I don't like it! I feel like a penguin in bicycle shorts!"

If you're a new mom struggling with keeping up and wondering why your emotions are all wacky, you'll be blessed by Dena's tender descriptions of her postpartem depression, when she was "low on sleep and high on anxiety." Dena says that her passion is to "help women see that we're in this race together."

GRACE FOR THE RACE is divided into nine sections that relate to the various stages and emotions of motherhood: training well, warming up and stretching out, the first lap, using proper equipment, hopping over the hurdles, handing it off, in the final stretch, crossing the finish line, and on the podium.

In the beginning of the book, she quotes a prayer from Saint Frances Cabrini, "Give me your grace, most loving Jesus, and I will run after You to the finish line, forever. Help me, Jesus, because I want to do this with burning fervor, speedily."

Each chapter is short, a few pages of hilarious stories from Dena's personal life. And she is such a great storyteller -- I can totally relate to everything she's describing. At the end of each section, she offers "Notes from the Coach," which are easy-to-read scriptures from modern versions of the Bible that speak right to the heart.

I'm going to get some copies of this book to have on hand for baby shower gifts and for mom friends who I want to encourage. It's so wonderful to read something where you feel loved and accepted for who you are, yet also challenged to be the best you can be for God.

Dena says, "If you're like me, you probably feel 'stuck' sometimes. Every day, I look toward the top of Mt. Laundry, having just tackled Mt. Dishes. Taking a deep breath, I start the climb...When I feel overwhelmed in the midst of the endurance test called parenthood, it helps me to remember that I'm not alone -- other climbers have gone before me."

Reading this book is like pausing a minute to sip a cool refreshing drink, then gearing back up for the climb, knowing that you're never, never in this parenting gig alone.

--Reviewed by Heather Lynn Ivester for Mind & Media

Grace For The Race provides an oasis of calm in a busy day. Dena's style is conversational and casual but it's full of deeper meaning. Her honesty gave me a safe place to relax and stop fretting about getting it all done perfectly. The book is full of stories about hearing Gods voice above the rattle of our hectic lives. It's a great reminder to slow down to enjoy the view.

When I first sat down with Grace For The Race I figured I would read a couple of the devotions. I read half the book before I realized it. These meditations, geared towards busy moms, will make you forget just how busy you are. They are so delightful, humorous, and heartwarming. You will enjoy every carefree moment you spend reading it. And, it will definitely leave you feeling like those moments were truly carefree.

Dena Dyer divides her thought provoking meditations into nine sections designed to inspire and encourage. Each piece begins with an appetizer (a quote) and ends with desert (scripture) related to that particular meditation. The entree is stories and insights from Dena's own life. Each piece is filling and inspirational.

You not only get a peak into Dena's own life, but you realize that what Dena says is true--we are all fellow runners, in the same daily race, with the same Coach. As Dena would have it, Grace For The Race, cheers you on in your daily race and inspires you to look for the little miracles in your own life. It also encourages you to set aside time, even if it is just a few minutes here and there, to talk to your Coach and lean on Him.

I bought Dena's book for my mommy friends for Christmas. They really liked the family stories and personal tidbits Dena wrote about. After I started reading the book myself, I couldn't put it down. I am not a mommy yet, but I will refer back to the book when I need inspiration or motivation, or just a laugh to lighten up the marathon moms always run! Grace for the Race meditations are inspirational for future mommy situations, but also, for now, is inspirational to me, just as a woman. Thank you Dena! I look forward to your next book!

This is the perfect read for every busy mother. I have three small children, and had sworn off any parenting books for awhile to read only fiction. I couldn't put this book down. Divided into REALLY quick daily readings, her true-life stories of mothering made me laugh out loud, and each reading is coupled with great Scripture pertaining to the day's topic. Dena's light hearted and profound approach left me feeling like I really can tackle each day as a busy mom.

As a devotional writer and mom, I read a lot of books marketed towards those two groups. This book combined the two in a delightful way. Grace for the Race compiles meditations for busy moms written by Dena Dyer. The writing is both humorous and heartwarming. Ms. Dyer makes herself vulnerable and displays a humility I find endearing. My favorite chapter tells "What Real Love Looks Like." I'd recommend this book for busy moms. Each chapter stands on its own, so the book can be read on the run. And how nice to find a fellow chocoholic mom writer!