“Mothering by the Book: The Power of Reading Aloud to Overcome Fear and Recapture Joy” by Jennifer Pepito
Book #5 for 2026
I read this book with my friend MM and we met up to discuss it together. So fun! We divided the book into 3 sections: chapters 1-5, chapters 6-10, and chapters 11-14. Overall, it wasn’t my favorite book. It felt a little disorganized and the author kind of jumped around a bit. But, as always, you can learn something from everyone. Plus, I love books about books and I got some titles to add to my TBR lists.
In chapter 4, “Overcome the Fear of Failure by Speaking Life”, the author shares a blessing that she prays over her family and it’s really beautiful:
“I bless you [list names of family members], to walk worthy of the calling to which you were called. I bless you to hate evil and love righteousness. I bless you to love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind. I bless you with the peace of God that passes understanding.” page 68
In chapter 6, she speaks about Sabbath keeping.
“For many of us, taking a day to rest seems impossible, but I think what is lost when we don’t pause in our week to connect with each other and with God is too precious to neglect.” page 97
“It’s rare to see family is sitting together, screen-free, just talking, but it gave me vision to continue to fight for time like that with my own children, to fight for rest days and family days, and time to just enjoy each other’s presence and the presence of God. I think that as we carve out these weekly anchors, we are giving our children something to hang on to.” page 97
❤️ I hope you can read a book with someone you love to discuss books with sometime soon! Life is better when you share it!
heavens to betty 