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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

An Unusual Way for Mothers to Be Intentional This Lent

by Chautona Havig · 3 Comments

Patty sat across from me at Denny’s in Bakersfield. Smiling, excited about her new release this week, telling me all about the book that inspired it and how it had become even better under the advice of another author.

“When I shared the book, she told me that I needed to cut out the first chapter. I cried. Then she asked me why I wrote it.” Patty went on to tell how she’d cried again at the emotions that welled up as she described her heart for women and our crazy tendency to pile more and more on our shoulders—of her dream of helping women to learn to live intentionally. To learn to rest.

That book was Slow Down, Mama: Intentional Living in a Hurried World. Today, the companion devotional releases, so I thought it was the perfect time to tell you what I’ve discovered in Slow Down, Mama.

Although this book is addressed to mothers, women of any walk (men, too, for that matter) will be reminded of how easy it is to be drawn into more and more until we’ve lost all peace. Until we spin wildly from one task or idea to the next without any purpose behind what we choose to do.

What’s it like? What’s in it for you?

Written in a conversational style, Slow Down Mama offers scripturally supported ideas for choosing when to swim with all you’ve got and when to gently tread water. Each chapter provides more than a look at motivations behind our actions. They even offer recommendations for other books that may help in the journey to a less activity-cluttered life.

I actually recommend this book to anyone. You won’t find a lot of earth-shattering, never-before-heard ideas in it. Instead, you will find gentle reminders of things we tend to tune out. You’ll be encouraged to look to the Lord for where you should spend your time and energy.

Patty Scott does this with an obvious heart for people, an approachable style, and a mindfulness to individual personalities. This isn’t a twelve-step program to perfection. Instead, it’s a heartfelt plea to turn to Jesus and allow Him to be that Sabbath Rest we so need in our crazy world.

Disclaimer: I’ve not yet finished it, but I’ve seen no hint that there will be any serious issues that will create caveats to my recommendation.

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

An Unusual Way for Mothers to Be Intentional This Lent

What does all this have to do with Lent?

Since today is the first day of Lent, the companion devotional releases. Just one thing. While I’ve never participated in Lent on any kind of serious basis, as I understand it, Lent is a time to give up something—a luxury as it were—as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

What better thing to “give up” for forty days than excess busyness, harried hurriedness, and a lack of focus? Some say it takes twenty-one days to create a new habit. At nearly double that number, Lent has the possibility of teaching us mindfulness in our choices and creating a new habit in even the most stubborn of us.

Ever since I began reading Slow Down, Mama, I can’t help but think of a quote from the movie, Sabrina—the one with Harrison Ford. In it, Sabrina says, “More isn’t always better, Linus. Sometimes more is just more.”

Sometimes I hear people talk about Lent in a rather rote manner—as in, “It’s that time again. Gotta choose something to skip for forty-days. I think this year it’s ice cream.” I’m not saying it’s always like that for every person, and I know that not all Christians participate in the tradition.

However, in as much as I can be mindful of Lent this year, I’m following this idea—giving up busyness and replacing it with focus on learning from the Lord what He wants from me. Forty days. Who knows…

Maybe after forty days, it’ll be a habit.

Here’s a bit more about it.

Title: Slow Down, Mama: Intentional Living in a Hurried World.

Author: Patty H. Scott

Synopsis:  Do you run yourself ragged trying to keep up with all the demands of life? Have you found yourself regularly saying there isn’t enough time in the day? Is your life flying by while you feel you are missing out on what matters most? Maybe you are just a little overextended or you feel the need to slow down to make more of your life.

In Slow Down, Mama, Patty H. Scott shares her own story of how she discovered an unsuspected truth.

Slowing down held the key to all her deeper longings. In this encouraging book, Patty shares empowering insights and tools to help you live with purpose. You will learn what is at the root of your busyness, how to move past your personal pitfalls and identify your truest purposes, and how to develop and solidify life-giving habits.

Patty’s writing style feels like you are sitting with a good friend over coffee. You will walk away from this book with a personalized plan for living a simpler and more fulfilling life and the encouragement you need to stick with your resolution.

And don’t forget to check out the companion devotional–Slow Down Mama: 31 Days to Help You Slow and Savor.  

Tell me… am I the only one who is always on the go, go, go?

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Comments

  1. Suzy Taylor Oakley says

    March 6, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    Chautona, I couldn’t have captured Patty’s book any better. I reviewed it a few months ago and was so excited when today’s launch of the devotional came about so that I could share it with my peeps. Just extra goodness. 🙂
    Funny you should mention the Sabrina remake – hubby and I watched it together Sunday night after I chose to SLOW DOWN and spend a couple of hours with him on my Sabbath. We hadn’t sat and watched a movie together in ages. (BTW, we have both versions of Sabrina and love them both!)
    Thank you for giving your perspective of Slow Down, Mama. It’s always neat to see how a book I love touches another person.
    xoxo
    SuzyO

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 6, 2019 at 7:46 pm

      I LOVE Audrey Hepburn, but this is one movie of hers that I just didn’t like. Probably because of Bogart. I can’t stand him.

      Reply
      • Suzy Taylor Oakley says

        March 6, 2019 at 7:49 pm

        I definitely liked the Julia Ormond version better than the one with Bogart. I just didn’t see him in the lead for that. Audrey Hepburn is the one who made that movie delightful. She could make any movie great just by being in it. 🙂

        Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
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Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
byChautona Havig

Finally getting a chance to chat with Sarah Monzon was a total delight, and learning all about her latest release, All’s Fair in Love and Christmas was equally awesome.  My copy is here and waiting for me to dive into the battle of the celebrations!  EEEP! Listen in to see what that even means!

Note: I sound like I’m underwater. We heard it during our interview, but I couldn’t make it behave and couldn’t fix it. Sorry!

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

How Does an Intense Christmas Competition Lead to Love?

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas has so much going for it that I don’t know where to start! Fun mom who made our heroine’s childhood Christmases an international delight without ever leaving home?  Check!  Social anxiety adding to the stress of competing for a promotion?  Check?  Romcom hilarity?  Check, check?  And add to all that Sarah’s wonderful writing and delightful characterization?  I’m all in.

We also chatted about why she chose to write about a woman with social anxiety, her preferred reading methods, and some of my favorite books by her. For a refresher, those are The Isaac Project, 12 Days of Snowmen, and Book Nerds & Boyfriends (a collection of three novellas).

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon

Two workplace rivals. One festive competition. And a romance that upends it all.

Every December two things are guaranteed for graphic designer Mackenzie Graham–Christmas celebrations and the annual promotion at her workplace. Those two things are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, the better an employee is at harnessing the Christmas spirit, the more likely they’ll win the new job. With her social anxiety, Mackenzie never thought she’d be a contender in her company’s holiday competition, so how exactly has she found herself dueling her workplace crush with wrapping paper tubes and using tinsel as her weapon of choice for a much-needed raise?

Jeremy Fletcher’s life is meticulously planned out, including how to win this year’s promotion at work. Not only will the new position fulfill some of his career goals, but as a single guardian to his twin niece and nephew, he needs the salary increase to support his family. Jeremy has barely noticed Mackenzie Graham around the office, but now that she’s his rival, he can’t stop thinking about her. Her quirkiness intrigues him, and he’s afraid that if he can’t get his head on straight, the promotion isn’t the only thing he’ll end up losing to Mackenzie.

“Inspirational rom-com readers are going to love this one.”–BETHANY TURNER, bestselling author of The Do-Over

You can learn more about Sarah on her WEBSITE.  Also follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

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Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
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