Only Love Today: Reminders to Breathe More, Stress Less, and Choose Love Kindle Edition

As some of my life choices and experiences make me more qualified to recommend a decent bailbondsman than to dispense advice on parenting/spirituality/how to live one's life, I'm prone to shy away from being really open about books that really have impacted my heart. THAT BEING SAID.....I've been curling up with this gem and have read it twice already and you need a copy. Or five. Rachel wooed me with "Hands Free Mama" but this one is my new love. Who couldn't use some reminders that it's probably going to be ok and that we are not the grand total of all of our failures? So me? I'm going to Only Love Today. And probably tomorrow too.Some of my favorite parts from this beautiful book:"If I were to delete my most regretful experiences, I wouldn't be here, on this particular page, in the story of my life.....If I deleted all the poor choices, the pitfalls, and the wrong turns of my life, my story would not be what it is today; I would not be who I am. But here's the best part: despite the marred pages of my past, today is a blank page lined with yesterday's wisdoms and braveries that came from falling down and getting back up. My story is not pretty; it's flawed, but it's real, and it's still going.""Hope renews. Self-compassion heals. Forgiveness frees. Today is a blank page. I will hold on to the hope that with each page, my story only gets better."In this book, you'll find the beautiful self-compassion and hope that our world could certainly use more of today.

*I did not receive any free product in exchange for a review*.I very rarely say that a book is actually life changing. Rachel's books Hands Free Mama and Hands Free Life started me down a path of love and forgiveness. The person I was forgiving was myself, the way I treated my own self, my kids, my friends...the distractions of life that I gave top priority to were not the things that matter. I heard my own children speaking in the same sarcastic ways as they heard from me. I saw them not listening when I asked them to do something because I never did anything that they asked. They had already defined that "just a minute" meant a mommy-minute which they had resigned themselves to understanding meant it would probably never happen. Only Love Today was even more full of simple habits to change...small things that literally only take a minute. The format of this book is such that in a snippet of time, you can find one hopeful sentence to lift your day and start along the path of change. Change does not happen instantly, but it is infinitely more easy when it's one tiny thing at a time. I have recommended this book to so many people, I cannot stop talking about it. My 8 and 10 year old daughters are reading pieces of it...and while I always think they need help with their behaviors *wink* I know that actually I am becoming accountable to them for my life choices. My choices will shape their lives and when I begin to make a bad choice, I will stop now and think for a moment before acting or speaking. Highly recommended!

I'm a mom of four-year-old twins, whom I love with all of my heart, and like all moms, I wonder how I'm supposed to handle constant change, craziness, and busyness. These are areas in my life I need work on so I'm always looking for books to help me. I love to read and have been buying more Christian inspiration books lately because they are often just what I need to read at that moment in time. I can't recall how I learned about Only Love Today by Rachel Macy Stafford (most likely, a recommendation based on some of my recent purchases) and I was very interested in it so I ordered the hardcover copy right away.Only Love Today: Reminders to Breathe More, Stress Less, and Choose Love is the Rachel Macy Stafford's third book and it's one that I use every day. Every. Single. Day. It's 324 pages long and is divided up into four sections, or rather, the seasons of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The messages and themes within each season also relate to the actual seasons themselves.The seasons and themes are:- Spring: Opening Up (Renewal, New Habits, and Growth)- Summer: Shining Through (Authenticity, Connection, and Acceptance)- Fall: Wrapping In (Gratitude, Grace, and Awareness)- Winter: Holding On (Hope, Encouragement, and Introspection)There is also a conclusion and epilogue. Each season contains approximately 80 pages of devotions and each devotion is one or two pages long. I'd say they won't take much longer than three minutes each to read so you can read at least one while you are enjoying your morning coffee, lunch break, or a few minutes of peace and quiet after the kids go to bed. Each devotion has a title listed as to the theme it will talk about (e.g. New Habits or Grace), followed by a short inspirational thought. The bulk of the particular devotion sometimes tells an anecdote from the author's life and what she learned from it. It often contains a lot of beautiful, positive thoughts about how you might have felt at one moment and some encouraging words to help pick you up. The devotions end with a daily reminder that summarizes that devotion's message.This isn't a daily devotion book so it's something you can use as needed, every day, several times a day, or however often you want to use it. Personally, I love having this kind of flexibility because I already have daily devotionals and love the freedom I feel with owning this one.The day I received this book, I started reading some of it right away and have been reading a devotion or two every day! I generally read them in order, especially since it's spring and the book starts with spring, but I sometimes randomly open to a page and start reading. I love the messages and inspirations within these devotions. This is a Christian inspiration book so there are references to God and so many real-life messages about staying positive in the midst of this crazy life. I love how the author writes so openly about how she felt during that moment and how she changed her thinking to look at a better way of handling everything. She seems like she could be writing from the point of view of so many of us moms who struggle with a lot of these similar thoughts.I've only had this book for a few weeks and it's already made me stop and think about what's really important! I received it shortly before I went on vacation and didn't bring it with me but wished that I had since I was itching to read it the entire time. I purchased the hardcover which is more expensive but I feel it is worth it to me to spend the extra money because I love the look and feel of this book. You could easily read this on your Kindle device, iPad, or smartphone but personally, I love the hardcover. I often find myself reading it during difficult moments and also during peaceful times, such as after the kids are in bed and we are all settled down for the night. It really helps me relax and put things into perspective so I can more easily enjoy this crazy life.If you are a Christian woman and a mom, you need this book! I think a lot of the devotions would especially help moms with children at home but I feel there is absolutely no reason why a mom with adult children wouldn't enjoy this as well because everyone needs inspiration at some time. You also never know if a friend or family member may need some positive thoughts and then you could help your own children when they have children. I love this book and highly recommend it to all Christian moms. I'm considering purchasing it for some friends and family members who also have young children because we could all use positive reminders about how important love is to everyone!

My initial instinct was to give it four stars for the reason that throughout the book I felt somehow some sense of self- indulgence allowing for idleness and passivity. It would be good if the points made by the author allowed for some injections of impact, of action, how to get a grip and carry on with greater motivation. But ,perhaps, that is for the next book ..Nonetheless this book is one of its kind. Almost like a universal prayer. If only, all of us were guided by it even in a tiny fraction, the world would be a better place. It's a book that makes you soften your edges.It helped me to take a big breath on more challenging days. And I will keep this book and reread it ...and that's why I'm giving it five starts.The most impacting words : you are your response.(Please translate to other languages)

I a busy full time working mother. This book has really helped me see how beautiful the tougher times can be. I can relate to so many parts of this book.... Ive sometime cried because its really hit a nerve. I can honestly say this book has changed the way I see things. In a subtle, gentle way it is life changing. Beautiful, insightful, deep..... If you a busy parent who sometimes gets frustrated with kids, spouses, family, people, being pulled in a hundred different directions all at once this is well worth your time. Enjoy

This book is written with great tenderness and for that reason alone it is a helpful book. It is a wonderful book for parents of small children who are frazzled and burnt out. Giving encouragement and suggestions for feeding your own soul. I would recommend it especially for young or first time mothers who are wrestling with the challenges of raising children according to spiritual values.

A really interesting read, definitely thought provoking.

One day at the time! This book can just inspire you any day, just open any page!