Recently I had the opportunity to participate in the Mother of Pearl book tour.  Author Margaret McSweeney collected stories from women in a Chicken Soup for the Soul sort of way.  The thing is that many of the stories didn’t give me the warm fuzzies.  All of the stories, however, celebrate the strength and stamina of women across generations and situations.   Mother of Pearl inspired me to think about my relationship with women in my life, especially my mother and grandmother, and to redefine my role in my daughter’s life.    I want my daughter to see me as a strong career woman who cherishes her family and follows in Jesus’ footsteps.

When I look back on the gifts my mother gave me, the memories are not of tangible birthday presents or family heirlooms.  We had few and far between of those things.  Instead, I wax nostalgic on moments of laughter and love.  I remember hard times that required her to go without so that her children didn’t have to.  I remember a single mom who worked her fingers to the bone in a foreign country so that I could get and education and raise a family of my own.  Everything I am, have, and will become are because of my mother.  I pray that my daughter will one day realize the stock from which she comes and that she’ll be proud of her heritage.

Mother of Pearl is a collection of stories like these.  Some are warm and fuzzy, some are tough and gritty.  All of the stories honor women who impacted those generations who came after.  I enjoyed reading memory after memory, relating to some and imagining others.  I even looked up some of the authors so that I could read more of their works.  Mother of Pearl is a quick read and would be perfect for a women’s devotional group or as a gift.  It made me reflect on my own mother’s love and the mother I am to my children.  I pray that someday my children would have good memories to share about me.

Meet Margaret: 

Margaret McSweeney is a well-published author often writing online articles for Make It Better (the former North Shore Magazine) and freelance articles for the Daily Herald, the largest suburban Chicago newspaper. In addition, she has authored and compiled several books including A Mother’s Heart Knows; Go Back and Be Happy; Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, Mother of Pearl and Aftermath.  With a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in international business, Margaret became a vice-president in the corporate finance division of a New York City bank and worked there 1986–93.  As founder of Pearl Girls, Margaret collaborates with other writers on projects to help fund a safe house for WINGS, an organization that helps women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, and to build wells for schoolchildren in Uganda through Hands of Hope. For the past 10 years she has served on the board of directors and leadership advisory board for WINGS. Margaret lives with her husband and 2 daughters in the Chicago suburbs.