See the Good/God in Everything (Vol. 1)
by Regina Clifford
Genre: Memoir / Christian Living
ISBN: 9780975663615
Print Length: 304 pages
Reviewed by Toni Woodruff
Inspirational and thoughtful, See the Good/God in Everything equips the reader with a compassionate lens to uplift their soul.
Regina Clifford’s See the Good/God in Everything is an entry-style memoir that expounds on her journey as a born again Christian and her desire for motherhood.
Rather than present a perfect, masked version of her adventures as a new mother, Clifford opts to be honest about the grime hidden underneath. She speaks about the difficulties of becoming a stepmother to adult children, going through infertility, and rebuilding her relationship with her family while keeping her religion at the forefront. Writing became her way of sharing her highest and lowest moments as a new mother and to reflect on her lived experiences. Her recollections are candid but polite and always end with a prayer and a section from the Bible.
The first chapters are dedicated to being a new mother, and they are thoughtful and pragmatic. There are no added airs to save face. I loved and appreciated the detail—from her daughter’s quirks to a life abroad and all the way down to a lack of intimacy. How many religious women have faced similar issues but felt unsure on how to proceed? In such instances, Clifford’s writing can feel like an oasis, where devout wives can see themselves reflected. There’s a wonderful humility in See the Good/God in Everything that makes it fun to pick up and continue.
Clifford’s devotion to improving herself as a friend, family member, and mother is depicted in a likable, straightforward way. Her admissions—like thinking she was slightly perfect before her marriage—make the experience feel honest. It’s hard to admit things like that. She puts herself out there and doesn’t prevaricate in this memoir, writing extensively on assimilating to the life of marriage and having to co-exist while keeping her own identity. I especially enjoyed her emphasis on the importance of prioritizing her needs and wants. This book is also a genuine, raw depiction of IVF, from the failures to the successes.
While many entries are easy to follow, it can be a bit hard other times to know where she is writing from: the Middle East, Australia, or somewhere else. I’d be engrossed in a passage only to realize that it was set much later than the previous entry. In the end, I was most drawn to her sections while living in the Middle East. There are some particularly illuminating passages about issues that tested her patience and compassion at that point in her life.
See the Good/God in Everything is definitely recommended for Christian mothers who could use a helping hand. Clifford’s book is filled with pious advice for when life gets challenging.
Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s book review of See the Good/God in Everything by Regina Clifford! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.
What did you think?