Review
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Title: In Mary’s Arms: A Christmas Message For Mothers
Author: Mary Holland McCann
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Inspiration/Religious
Year Published: 2016
Number of Pages: 42
Binding: Hardback
ISBN13: 978-1-62972–245-0
Price: $8.99
Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association For Mormon Letters
In the spirit of the upcoming Christmas season, Mary Holland McCann has authored this new book comparing the traits of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, to the struggles, challenges and feelings of young mothers everywhere.
Ms. McCann begins by retelling a story she read in a newspaper years ago, about a young mother in her thirties who boarded a bus in the middle of winter wearing a ragged coat, torn socks and no shoes. She explained that she had boarded the bus just to get warm, even though she needed to go the opposite direction. She related how she could barely afford to buy her eight children shoes, but did not have enough to buy shoes for herself. A teenager on the bus heard the conversation, and as he got up to exit, he handed his shoes to the woman, stating, “Here lady- you need these more than I do.”
The author goes on to explain that she believes we see acts of generosity like this, especially during the Christmas season, because we want to be more like our Savior, whose birth we celebrate.
We then read of how the life of the Savior is compared to His mother Mary’s life and characteristics, and how she taught Jesus through her personal example of faith, fortitude and obedience. Mary McCann identifies characteristics of the Mother of the Lord that qualified her for this tremendous calling. Some of these traits include replacing fear with faith, submission to God’s will, and her reverence for sacred things.
As the daughter of Elder Jeffry R. Holland and Sister Patrica T. Holland, the author draws upon personal stories from her life and scriptural references regarding the mother of Christ, and Christ himself, to illustrate to other mothers the role Mary played in the teaching, raising, and training of our Redeemer. Ms. McCann invites the reader to consider what we know about Mary and what made her capable of such a tremendous responsibility.
I found the passages concerning the Mother of Christ, and the comparisons of the traits of Christ, His mortal mother, and Divine Father, to be uplifting and helpful.
This book was written for young mothers who feel overwhelmed, overburdened, fearful, frustrated and anxious in their role as mothers. It is the author’s hope that looking to the qualities and example of Mary, the mother of Jesus, readers can and will find peace and hope and direction as they undertake the divine duty of teaching and raising their children.
This small purse sized book would be an excellent gift idea for such women.