My third recommendation in this blog series for Mother’s Day Gift Ideas is the amazing book In Bloom: Trading Restless Insecurity for Abiding Confidence by Kayla Aimee. I had the privilege of being on the launch team for this book back in February when it was released, and even though my review is a little late (better late than never, right?) I knew I just had to share this book for Mother’s Day. I seriously think every woman can benefit from reading this book! This post today is written more towards women, so I think this is a great gift to give to your fellow mom friends, soon-to-be moms, women who hope to be a mother someday, or even a gift-to-self this Mother’s Day.

To order In Bloom by Kayla Aimee on Amazon, click here.

In Bloom is part memoir of Kayla growing up in the 90s, part stories about navigating how to raise her daughter to be a confident woman of God, and part call to action to put aside insecurity once and for all to finally bloom into the confident woman God created you to be. This book not only was touching and witty, but it put into words many things I have felt myself, especially having grown up in the church in the 90s in a culture that viewed “biblical femininity” one way that I didn’t exactly feel like fit into.

To explain why this book spoke to me so much, I must explain a little bit about my background. My mom raised me to be a strong, outspoken/opinionated, independent woman, which seemed to be at odds with some of the teachings and cultures I was surrounded by in church while coming of age. I’ve had a lot of time in my adulthood to explore for myself what the Bible says and what it means to be a woman of God, and as I have shed some of the self-imposed misconceptions of my youth, I have seen God do a greater work in me than I would have planned for myself. If someone had told me 10 years ago that I’d be sharing my personal journaling publicly for everyone to see and read, I would have probably locked myself in my room and never come out (hello, introvert here). I am so grateful to now have a book like In Bloom to recommend to women who have felt insecure and need some encouragement for how to bloom into confidence, and hopefully do it a lot earlier in life than I did.

If you have ever felt out of place or that God got it wrong when he made you, then run to go read this book! Kayla writes: “When we imagine ourselves before and after, we think of the end of one thing and the beginning of another. But that’s where I think we get discouraged because we assume change means becoming someone completely different. Maybe we’re looking at change all wrong. It seems to me that if we are fearfully and wonderfully made in the beginning, then our renewing isn’t meant to keep changing us from one old thing to another totally new thing, over and over again. It’s meant to liberate us of our shame, enhancing our gifts and adorning us in grace” (page 142). Kayla’s writing in this book is so relatable and accessible, and I was flipping through chapter after chapter, not able to put it down. I think one of the biggest messages of this book other than confidence is that you don’t have to live in shame. What a liberating truth that God does not want us to live in our shame, but instead he wants us to be liberated through Christ to use our gifts and bear fruit!

This book is more than just a story. It’s a guide to help identify your sources of inadequacy and insecurity that have bombarded you throughout your life, and replace them with affirming truths from God’s word that you are accepted, loved, and filled with purpose. The text is saturated with biblical truth without being imposing and judgmental. Instead, In Bloom is a celebration of being a confident woman and embracing who God made you to be.

I enjoyed this book so much that I had to bring some of the lessons I learned into the margin of my Bible. I journaled this page in my Thrive Bible in Psalm 92:12-15 “But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!”

I highly recommend this book, and I think it’s a great resource for helping to instill a culture of acceptance, confidence, and flourishing in the next generation of young women, especially as mothers raising daughters. To order your own copy of In Bloom for yourself or as a gift on Amazon, click here.

I’m also having a giveaway over on Instagram @kountingsheepbiblejournaling for a copy of In Bloom, as well as other goodies. Head on over to my account to enter to win a copy of this book!

Please note that this post contains affiliate links. This means I receive a small commission when you purchase through my link at no additional cost to you. All pictures and opinions contained in this post are my own.