4 a.m. Madonnas: Spiritual Guide for Christian Mothers

Author: Rachel Barton

[Image: 4 a.m. Madonnas: Spiritual Guide for Christian Mothers]

Pregnancy can be a strange process. Having a baby alters your life like nothing else. It is a time when friends, relatives, magazines, and doctors all vie for your attention, telling you what you must have, what you need to do, what you should be feeling. In the midst of this whirlwind it is important to find a sense of inner calm. You can transcend the madness and find something spiritual, something of God, in all of this. It is possible to pay positive attention to your feelings, to enjoy exploring your inner experiences, and to clearly discern what is right for you, your baby, and your new family.

Based on a broad Christian tradition this handbook offers exercises for prayer and reflection as a way of exploring your own experiences during those times when you need spiritual guidance most. Although the reflections are specific to pregnancy and motherhood, any woman will find them helpful long after she ceases to be pregnant and her family grows up. This is a gift for mothers of any age.

Features: Bibliography, Illustrated, Table of Contents
Physical Info: 0.39" H x 8.38" L x 5.77" W (0.39 lbs) 134 pages
Publisher: Liguori Publications
US SRP: $ 14.95 US
Binding: Paperback
Pub Date: October 2007

Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ~ vii
Introduction ~ ix
1 What Can Your Baby Show You About God? ~ 1
4 am Madonna ~ 1
God as Creator ~ 3
The Fertile, Feminine Side of God ~ 6
God’s Nurturing and Indulgent, Unconditional Love ~ 8
God’s Presence in Everyday Life ~ 13
Paintbox Prayers ~ 15
Paintbox Prayers and Journals ~ 18
2 Prayer and Responding to Feelings, Thoughts, and
Memories ~ 23
Childhood Memories ~ 24
World Events ~ 26
Overwhelming Feelings About Your Baby ~ 31
Ambivalent Feelings ~ 33
Your Sense of Your Own Self and Space ~ 36
Your Sacred Space ~ 38
Your Symbol ~ 40
Prayer and How a 4 am Madonna Might Do It ~ 41
Living Prayerfully ~ 45
Inviting God In ~ 46
OContents
3 Creative Expression Following Prayer or Reflection ~ 51
Creative Drawing ~ 51
Collage ~ 61
Creative Writing ~ 63
Sensory Imaging ~ 67
4 Where Do We Find Our Support and Inspiration? ~ 71
Who Inspires, and Why? ~ 72
Stories and Desires ~ 77
Manuals and Experts—Discerning Our Way ~ 79
Discovering Our Potential for Joy ~ 85
Images of God ~ 90
5 New Parental Roles and Adapting to Family Life ~ 98
“Chicken-Banana” Days ~ 98
The Shape of Things to Come… ~ 103
Loving Our Colorful Children ~ 118
Being a Parent ~ 121
Interpersonal Circles ~ 124
Human Connection ~ 126
Conclusion ~ 129
Endnotes ~ 131
Further Reading ~ 133

Additional Information
CPC Categories:
- Church & Ministry | Church Life | Roman Catholicism
- Inspiration | Motivational | General Religious Inspiration
Categories:
| Catholic
| Family Concerns
BISAC Categories:
- Religion | Christian Life | Inspirational - Catholic
Themes:
Religious Orientation | Catholic
Religious Orientation | Christian
Sex & Gender | Feminine

4 a.m. Madonnas: Spiritual Guide for Christian Mothers Author: Rachel Barton
	Item#	Binding	isbn - 10	Price
	9780764816482	Paperback	0764816489	9.95
Based on a broad Christian tradition this handbook offers exercises for prayer and reflection as a way of exploring your own experiences during those times when you need spiritual guidance most.

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