Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry

In an age when keeping up with the Joneses refers not only to material riches but also to a whirlwind of activities, author Katrina Kenison humbly asks, Just whose standards am I living by, anyway? Kenison, mother of two sons and former annual editor of The Best American Short Stories anthology since 1990, understands the hectic agendas, short tempers, and full-time careers todays families endure. But she has also learned to limit the chaos. The title comes from Kenisons youngest son, Jack, cuddled up with mom one quiet afternoon as she crochets mitten strings. He holds up a long piece of yarn and proclaims, Im knitting a mitten string for God--a sweet phrase, but a bit misleading. Despite a sprinkling of minor religious references, the larger focus of Kenisons beautifully written first book lies in living with care and awareness. Chapters with titles like Grace, Healing, Spirit, and Breathing offer soothing pictures of a family life that honors patience, imagination, and Sundays without plans.Kenison weaves together personal stories and wisdom from such philosophers as Thoreau and Anne Morrow Lindbergh; the graceful resulting tapestry shows how peace and simplicity can be savored in a world hell-bent on pushing people to accomplish more, own more, and do it all as quickly as possible.--Liane Thomas

Author: Katrina Kenison

Language: English

Binding: Paperback

Pages: 240

Publisher: Warner Books

Publication Date: 2002-04-01