This summer I read the popular book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker. I had heard great things about this book and had been told that it would challenge my socks right off. It did.

It is just the kind of book that fuels the fire for #WoundUpWomen.

I asked some of my friends to discuss the impact that this book had on them. For the next three weeks you will hear from them about their experience with the ideas from 7.

Have you read it? Let us know what you thought and what changes you made as a result of it. If you haven’t read it yet you really should.:)

I am thrilled that Amy is sharing with us today as she reviews Jen Hatmaker’s book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

Amy is a loving wife and devoted mother to two active boys. She inspires others with her commitment to her family and to running. She challenged me to run my first 10K; she is currently training for her first half marathon. Amy is an active member of her church, enjoys reading, and loves Jesus.

I recently read 7 by Jen Hatmaker and it really made me think.

What are the things in my life that I take for granted every single day? What are the things in my life that I could live without or live with less of?

Then I started to think about my kids. I have two boys ages 7 and 4.5, what a great lesson for these young developing hearts to learn…life isn’t about THINGS, it’s about PEOPLE.

I have been trying to teach my kids that we have so much compared to the majority of the world.

When I tell them that some kids don’t even have a bed to sleep in, it blows their mind. When I tell them that there are even kids in their schools that don’t have dinner to eat every night, it makes them think……only for a second though and then they go back to playing with their $30 Lego set they got for their birthday or snacking on their THIRD snack of the day!

How can I get this to sink in? How can I make this real to them? So, we decided to start small.

My kids have gotten into the habit of saying a lot of “I wish I had _______”, “If I had _____ then I could have fun”, “I want ______ just like my friend has.” I was getting sick of it. I understand that every kid does this but I was done with it.

I took a trip to Guatemala in the summer of 2011 and saw how little people live with and still smile, enjoy life, and are thankful for what they have…..that’s what I want my kids to realize.

We have so much more than most people yet we still want and want. Believe me, it’s not just my kids. I am guilty too!

So I implemented a rule for my kids and myself. Every time I hear I WANT/I WISH I HAD/CAN I HAVE, we have to say something that we are thankful for that we currently have. It’s a small step, but I am hoping to make more steps toward thankfulness in the near future.

As for the book 7, I am hoping to get a group of friends together this fall to take on these challenges of living with less so that we can:

1) Glorify our Heavenly Father with what He has given us and get rid of the EXTRA

2) “Fast” from the things that make me comfortable and complacent in my faith and focus more fully on being in prayer and serving others.

My brother and sister-in-law have matching tattoos – “To Love Is To Serve”, may I love those around me by how I serve them and my Heavenly Father. May I become less so that He can be lifted higher!

Making small steps and praying for a HUGE change.

Growing in Grace,
Amy