Making it Real Book Review by Tina Forkner ...Imagine my surprise when I was met with smiles from Lisa, Laura and the four members of Point of Grace. When Shelley Breen stood up to give me a hug, I knew I was among a group of working moms. Only working moms could be so patient! I caught my breath and flipped on my recorder, not wanting to miss another word. Shelley, Leigh, Denise and Heather were already talking about the group’s latest project, their book, “Make it Real,” published in 2005 by Howard Publishing. Point of Grace has been making it real for over 12 years. They are successful working moms who have many of the same struggles and challenges as you and me, albeit they have an online fan club. At pointofgrace.net, you can read what they made for dinner alongside news about their careers. These days, careers for Point of Grace members consist not only of music, but of their passion, Girls of Grace. Through the Girls of Grace conferences, they minister to teen girls by showing them who the real members of Point of Grace are. The 12 week devotional and Bible study guide, “Make it Real,” as well as the “Q&A” book were written in response to questions received at Girls of Grace conferences. Shelley Breen says, “We all tried to pick topics we felt would be relatable to them [teen girls] and things that we struggle with.” “One of the things I talk about,” adds Denise Jones, “Is comparison and the struggle that we all have. For me: ‘She’s a better mom; her house is organized and mine’s a wreck.’ In high school, my issues were the same.” Across the table, Leigh Cappillino looks serious. “We’re all in this together; sometimes women can be so hard on women. If we can get to a place where we’re not hard on each other, hopefully, it will influence the teenager not to be hard on the other teenager.” Leigh describes this cycle as, “a snowball effect of hopefulness.” “That’s what’s so great about what y’all are doing and what Girls of Grace is doing,” says Denise in her Nashville drawl. “All these ministries…we all want to be accepted. Every teenage girl at that conference…every woman that’s at work…we all want to find our place.” I glance at Lisa who is nodding. This is why she, and her Co-Founder Cindy Laxton, started Moms@Work. After the interview I’m left pondering where that place is. I suppose it’s a collection of several different spaces from the place where I work to the place where my husband and I tuck the kids into bed. I wonder, if I roll it all up together in one, does it now have meaning? Is it a snowball that can join with others and inspire hope? Or just a big mess that’s ready to snowball out of control? Sometimes I feel like it’s the latter, but maybe that’s when I’m trying too hard to be perfect. Point of Grace’s make it real philosophy isn’t only for teens it seems. When we, as working moms, try too hard to be the perfect employee, the perfect mom or perfect wife, we are in danger of losing our authenticity. We deprive ourselves of the opportunity to network less on a professional level and more on a personal, or real, level with other women. When I first sat down for the interview with Point of Grace, I had no idea their book written for teenagers, had any application for me as a working mom. Imagine my surprise when I walked away from the interview with the phrase Let’s Make it Real! going through my head. But what else should I expect from a group of working moms? Peel back the layers and the Point of Grace moms are as real as it gets. To learn more about Girls of Grace, go to www.girlsofgrace.com Read the Moms@Work interview with Shelley Breen! > back