Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood

by Danielle Bean

Overview

Winner of a second-place award in family life books from the Catholic Media Association.


What happens to a mother’s heart when her children grow up and begin their own lives? How can she absorb the mixed emotions of anxiety and excitement, grief and hope?

In Giving Thanks and Letting Go, bestselling Catholic author Danielle Bean ponders her emptying nest and overflowing heart as she encourages you to join her in leaning on God and discovering the joy and promise of this sacred season of parenting.

Comforting, relatable, and practical, Giving Thanks and Letting Go shares Danielle Bean’s personal experience of launching her children into their adult lives. From this crucial moment in her motherhood, she offers sage advice as she reflects on the precious years she spent raising children and learning to trust in God’s providence.

In her most personal book to date, Bean, brand manager at CatholicMom.com, reveals the freedom she discovered as she tossed out old trophies and Nordic Ware; the release she feels when she lets herself sob with abandon; the pleasant satisfaction of extra space in her home and in her marriage; and the happy recognition of God's abiding presence through all the years of family life.

As you accompany Bean on her journey, you will learn to

• let yourself grieve;
• acknowledge that being a mom has never been easy;
• turn to your husband;
• give up control;
• accept the suffering with grace;
• trust in God to have the best plans;
• spark joy, give thanks, and move on; and
• nourish your soul, body, and mind.

Allow these familiar, comforting, and heart-tugging scenes from Bean's life and the lessons she’s learned be your trusted companion for reflecting on your own parenting journey.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594719455
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	02/07/2020
Series:	A CatholicMom.com Book
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Danielle Bean is vice president of digital content at Trinity Road. She is the host of the Girlfriends podcast and cohost of The Gist on CatholicTV.

Bean is the author of several books, including Giving Thanks and Letting Go, Small Steps for Catholic Moms, Momnipotent, and You Are Enough. She is a retreat leader and a popular speaker on a variety of subjects related to Catholic family life, education, marriage, and motherhood.

She lives in New Hampshire with her family.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Finding God in the Gaps xi

1 Saying Goodbye 1

2 Becoming One 9

3 Moving On 21

4 Embracing Now 31

5 Risking Love 41

6 Investing Well 51

7 Letting Go 63

8 Growing Weary 73

9 Expanding Horizons 83

10 Bearing Witness 95

Conclusion: Something Beautiful for God 107

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“A touching and beautiful book.” —Colleen Carroll Campbell, Author of My Sisters the Saints

“Honest, filled with humor, poignant, and tender, this book is a great gift for any woman who seeks support in her vocation, helping her to see her life—just as it is—as ‘something beautiful for God.’” —Lisa M. Hendey, Founder of CatholicMom.com

“I loved reading it. Danielle Bean is a remarkable ‘everyday mystic’ who finds God in people, places, and circumstances that most of us might easily miss. Through disarming vulnerability and humor, her mysticism rubs off on us and helps us find hope, joy, and love in everyone and everything.” —Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC, Author of 33 Days to Morning Glory

“Danielle Bean’s words dove into the deepest recesses of my mom heart and gave me hope. I loved this book!” —Kathryn Whitaker, Author of Live Big, Love Bigger

“With time comes wisdom. In Giving Thanks and Letting Go, Danielle Bean considers the multitude of changes that have occurred within her marriage and family life in the fifteen years since the publication of her first book of essays on motherhood. Bean shares with honesty and humility that marriage is sometimes hard and motherhood can be the most challenging of vocations. But when God is the center of your heart and your home, all things are survivable, even entering into a new season in which children leave to begin their own adventures. Bean is genuine in her sharing that change may not come easily, but if we embrace it with the same joy as when we first became mothers, there is no worry, only wonder at the path ahead for everyone.” —Mary Lenaburg, Author of Be Brave in the Scared

Editorial Reviews

12/16/2019

Bean (My Cup of Tea) describes the challenges associated with Christian parents transitioning into life as an empty nester in this tender work. “In earlier years, we might have struggled to keep up with the fullness of our nests,” she writes, “and yet now we find ourselves grappling with a startling new sense of emptiness.” With humor and openness about her sadness watching her children leave her home, she addresses topics such as saying goodbye when one’s children move out, letting go, embracing the present, and giving up control. Bean discusses the weariness that can accompany the responsibilities of parenthood and emphasizes the importance of establishing a core identity with God to prevent resentment and burnout, which becomes crucial once one can no longer direct their attentions to the needs of children. To this end, she also explains the need for flexibility and a willingness to adapt when “God interrupts plans.” Regarding the challenges of family life she writes, “I find that even the ugly, messy, hard parts of life can be beautiful if we examine them through the lens of grace.” While Bean’s comforting advice can apply to any parent, Christian mothers will particularly enjoy this encouraging guide. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly