Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith [Paperback]

Margaret McSweeney (Compiler)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 11, 2012

Like oysters, women often encounter unexpected grit during their everyday lives. In response, God's love and grace covers this grit and transforms the pain into a precious pearl that leaves a layered, luminous lining within a shell: Mother of Pearl. This brilliant luster is strong, lasting, and purposeful-just like the love, lessons, and legacies left by the special women in our lives. Mother of Pearl celebrates the collective iridescence of motherhood. Margaret McSweeney presents a collection of heartfelt vignettes from authors who communicate the importance of the unique relationships between mothers and their children, between granddaughters and grandmothers and between children and the mother-figures in their lives. These stories tell of the power of faith, prayer, and values, exploring coming of age, the joy of becoming a mother, the importance of motherhood, the ways to heal from a bad relationship with a mother and weathering the death of a special loved one. Poignant and thought-provoking, the stories serve to inspire, encourage, instill hope, and strengthen faith. The proceeds from the sale of Mother of Pearl will be donated to organizations helping struggling women and children. The charities include Wings (Women in Need Growing Stronger) to help fund the Safe House in the Chicago suburbs and to Hands of Hope to help build wells for schoolchildren in Zambia. Mother of Pearl celebrates the collective iridescence of motherhood. Margaret McSweeney presents a collection of heartfelt vignettes from authors who communicate the importance of the unique relationships between mothers and their children, between granddaughters and grandmothers and between children and the mother-figures in their lives. These stories tell of the power of faith, prayer, and values, exploring coming of age, the joy of becoming a mother, the importance of motherhood, the ways to heal from a bad relationship with a mother and we

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Margaret McSweeney, a wife and mother, serves on the Leadership Advisory Board for Wings (Women in Need Growing Stronger). She is the author of A Mother's Heart Knows and Aftermath: Finding Grace Through Grief and coauthor of Go Back and Be Happy; she also compiled the collection of essays Pearl Girls. Visit McSweeney online at www.pearlgirls.info.

Product Details

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: InspiringVoices (May 11, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1462401589
• ISBN-13: 978-1462401581
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #510,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Margaret lives with her husband and two daughters in a Chicago suburb. She is the author of Aftermath: Growing in Grace Through Grief (2012, A Mother's Heart Knows (2005) and the co-author of Go Back and Be Happy (2006). She is the founder and collaborator of Pearl Girls, www.pearlgirls.info. All the proceeds of books sales from Mother of Pearl (2012) and Pearl Girls (2009) to go support the work of two charities, WINGS AND HANDS OF HOPE. Margaret has been featured on Greg Wheatly's "Prime Time America," TLN's "Aspiring Women," and LeSea's "The Harvest Show." Margaret writes freelance articles for The Daily Herald, the largest suburban Chicago newspaper. Notable interviews include Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Kinkade, Susan Branch and Dr. John Gottman. Margaret also wrote a feature article for crosswalk.com. With a master's degree in international business, Margaret became a vice president in the corporate finance division of a New York City bank and worked there from 1986-1993. Supporting charitable causes is important to Margaret. For the past five years, she has served on the board of directors for WINGS, an organization that helps abused women and their children get a new start in life. Margaret would love to meet you too. Follow her on twitter (@McSweeney) or friend her on facebook. You can also keep up with Margaret at Kitchen Chat, her weekly radio show.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Stories November 8, 2012

By Lisa

Format:Paperback

Mothers come in many different shapes and forms, but they touch almost all of our lives in one way or another. This book is a tribute to mothers of every kind. In a series of short essays, a number of different authors share a short story of love and inspiration about an important woman from their life. From birth to death, motherhood to grandmotherhood, all aspects of life are covered by the various stories. Some stories are funny, and some are touching. They all share a common thread of reminding us all of the wonderful things that mothers have done for our lives.

Each of these stories is rather short, so this is a perfect book when looking for a moment of inspiration. Even the busiest person can easily find time to read one of these stories. The entire range of life is covered very well. I especially loved Tricia Goyer's message about adoptive mothers. It was a beautiful testament to the love that an adoptive mother can have for her child. Bonnie St. John also had a wonderful story about trying to fill her mother's shoes. Her mother really sounds like an amazing person, and her story really made me want to go out in the world and help more people.

This book would make a wonderful gift for a special woman in your life. By keeping the stories short, it helps to make the book accessible to anyone. It also allows you the time to read the story and have some time to really think about what you read. This book will help you find inspiration and appreciation for all the wonderful women that touch your lives.

Book provided for review.

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart Warming Stories September 28, 2012

By atticgirl

Format:Paperback

I have been a fan of The Pearl Girls for several years and was very excited to read these stories from some of my favorite authors including Tricia Goyer, and Robin Jones Gunn. I also met some authors that I was not familiar with, but have enjoyed their heartwarming stories about motherhood. Many of these stories pulled on my heartstrings and I was able to relate to them as a mom. But even if you are not a mother, you may relate to these stories about family relationships and mother figures.

One of my favorites was from an inspirational person herself. She has an incredible story of surviving a car accident with a traumatic brain stem injury, coming out of a one month coma and running a triathalon 14 years later. Julie Papievis remembers dying and seeing her two deceased grandmothers who gave her this message: "Your body will heal. Go back and be happy." (pg. 142) When I read this, it intrigued me and made me want to read more about her amazing story!

There are many more great "pearls" to read in this book, many that will leave you wanting to know more about that story or author. And the best part is, when you purchase this book, you will be helping other women and children!

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Inspiring! September 22, 2012

By Misslissy

Format:Paperback

This book - wow, what can I say about it. It was absolutely fabulously written and put together. The stories ranged across the gamut and they both made me smile and brought tears to my eyes. Some of the short pieces were more story-telling style while others were more factual but they were all inspiring and some were even challenging. Not in a challenging hard kind of a way, but in a way where they challenged you to take a specific action. It made me long to be a mom like these mothers and to miss my mom all the more. As soon as I finished this book, I texted her "I love you and miss you mom." I also really appreciate that the proceeds of this book go to helping people. All in all, it's a great read paired with great causes. I also really appreciated that most of the pieces were short so I could read one or two in just five or ten minutes which would leave me thinking as I worked on other things.

Disclosure: I was provided with a free e-book copy of this in exchange for my honest review. These thoughts and feelings are 100 percent mine and 100 percent real!