Church of the small things : the million little pieces that make up a life

First Title Value for Searching:

Personal Author:

Shankle, Melanie

Physical Description:

222 pages ; 22 cm.

Genre:

Anecdotes.

Summary:

Author Melanie Shankle celebrates, with her trademark stories and humor, the wonder of the many small moments in life that add up to make a big difference and ultimately shape the person we become.

Contents:

Foreword / by Ree Drummond, the pioneer woman -- Introduction -- Give me a casual corner suit and get out of my way -- How Walmart and a Frito Pie made all the difference -- Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as a Naugahyde sofa -- Se habla Van Halen? -- Why a Trans Am might be overrated -- The dirty truth of a white couch -- Forty is not the new thirty -- Bangs, bangs, you're dead -- So you think you can parent -- Fish, frogs, crabs, and a farm of lies -- True tales of canine delinquents -- The glamorous life of a writer -- To exercise or not to exercise? That's not a real question -- Autocorrect is the Devil -- The leader of the band -- Baby Sister -- Dodging a bullet -- When life is a mixture of sweet and sad -- Beyond measure.

Subject Term:

Christian women -- Religious life

Christian life

Spiritual life

Women -- Conduct of life

Women -- Psychology

Publication Info:

Grand Rapids, Michigan : Zondervan, [2017]

Subject:

Christian women -- Religious life

Christian life

Spiritual life

Women -- Conduct of life

Women -- Psychology

Anecdotes.

Christian life -- 1960-

Christians -- Religious life

Discipleship

Religious life -- Christianity

Life, Spiritual

SAILS ISBN:

9780310348870

Available:

Library	Shelf Number	Shelf Location	Status
Searching... Holmes Public Library	158.1 SHA	NONFICTION	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Fairhaven-Millicent	158.1 SHA 2017	NONFICTION	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Plympton Public Library	158.1 SHA	NONFICTION	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Is my ordinary, everyday life actually significant? Is it okay to be fulfilled by the simple acts of raising kids, working in an office, and cooking chicken for dinner?

It's been said, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away." The pressure of that can be staggering as we spend our days looking for that big thing that promises to take our breath away. Meanwhile, we lose sight of the small significance of fully living with every breath we take.

Melanie Shankle, New York Times bestselling author and writer at The Big Mama Blog tackles these questions head on in her fourth book, Church of the Small Things. Easygoing and relatable, she speaks directly to the heart of women of all ages who are longing to find significance and meaning in the normal, sometimes mundane world of driving carpool to soccer practice, attending class on their college campus, cooking meals for their family, or taking care of a sick loved one.

The million little pieces that make a life aren't necessarily glamorous or far-reaching. But God uses some of the smallest, most ordinary acts of faithfulness--and sometimes they look a whole lot like packing lunch.

Through humorous stories told in her signature style, full of Frito pie, best friends, the love of her Me-Ma and Pa-Pa, the unexpected grace that comes when we quit trying to measure up, and a little of the best TV has to offer, Melanie helps women embrace what it means to live a simple, yet incredibly meaningful life and how to find all the beauty and laughter that lies right beneath the surface of every moment.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Shankle (Nobody's Cuter Than You), writer for The Big Mama Blog, thinks life is simpler than people make it. Through 19 rip-roaring chapters on the pains and foibles of everyday life, readers will laugh at Shankle's self-deprecating account of her many mishaps and misunderstandings, including the struggle to find a job after college, learning to live with a pristine white couch she was afraid to sully, redoubling her efforts to work exercise into her daily routine, and trying to find a doggy day care for her two renegade pups. Shankle revisits her childhood in later chapters, which allows her to dip into more serious matters such as her parents' divorce, how she made time to spend with her grandparents, and her evolving relationship with her younger sister. Fans of Martha Bolton will find much of the same wit and levity in Shankle's writing. Most chapters close with a "Small Things" list that begins with a quote and includes lessons and reminders gleaned from the theme of the chapter. Shankle's winsome book will be well-received by Christian readers looking to be more conscientious in everyday life. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

Some women strive (or pretend) to be perfect. Others accept their limitations and celebrate anyway. Shankle (Nobody's Cuter Than You, 2015) unashamedly opts for the latter stance and offers a book of short essays in which she discusses bangs as a misbegotten hairstyle, autocorrect as a scourge to communication, and rescue dogs who, in gratitude, seem to live forever. She doesn't break new ground so much as invite readers to chuckle at her (and their) foibles. Her husband, daughter, and friend, Gulley, all appear throughout. All is not fun and games, however, as she shares how she and her father discuss her parents' divorce and how his integrity continues to inspire her. The essays range from some that offer little or no mention of a religious viewpoint to others that are distinctly Christian. Aptly titled, Shankle's book does an admirable job of showing how small moments really do make up a life. This breezy read is suitable for a book club, at the beach, and on a nightstand for bedtime reflection.--Curbow, Joan Copyright 2017 Booklist