For the Love of Small Towns
a lesson in caring for our neighbors
Welcome to Walk & Talk, my monthly newsletter to share stories, inspiration, and hope. I’m Kim Knowle-Zeller, mama, pastor, and writer. I’ve lived in West Africa and one summer hiked 500 miles across Spain, and now I call Cole Camp, MO home with my husband, two children, and dog. I love to walk, talk, and share stories. Thanks for being here!
Dear Friend,
Two weeks out from the release of The Beauty of Motherhood, I have much to remember and for which to give thanks: the quiet moments celebrating the work of writing a book, the gift of collaborating and creating with a friend, the joy my kids exude at flipping through mama’s book, and the words of appreciation readers have shared.
But for today, I want to tell you about the place where most of these words were formed and put on paper — Cole Camp, Missouri.
I want to tell you about my view from the writing desk. How I watch neighbors taking their morning stroll and kids playing at the park. I want to tell you how even though I don’t know everyone’s names, whenever I pass someone, whether in the car or on foot, they wave. I want to tell you that at the grocery store, or library, or out to lunch there’s always someone to talk with or a friend who asks, “How are you doing?” I want to tell you that at story time I met a friend and then one invitation after another led to a group of mom’s getting together weekly and how this friendship has made my life richer. I want to tell you how neighbors have asked about the book and when it was available to buy.
And then, most importantly, I want to tell you not about my book, but rather how this small town came together.
The weekend of my book launch a benefit dinner was held for a mom named Ashley undergoing cancer treatments. She’s dealing with the pileup of bills and travel to appointments and the cost of caring for herself and her family. The meal was put together by a handful of community members and included a full meal, raffles, and entertainment. Social media was flooded with ways to support the family. Throughout the weeks leading to the event I was struck by the waves of support, and on the evening of the event it felt like the whole town was present.
But it wasn’t until I read an interview in the paper that I understood the depth of what it means to care for our neighbors: the reporter asked the planning team how they knew Ashley. The answer was one the three of them echoed in a near identical manner….until a few months ago they didn’t. Many things about Ashley’s story pulled them in. Young mother, young daughter, her devoted husband, all facing the repercussions of a cancer diagnosis.
And this is the heart of our call as God’s people. To love our neighbors as we’ve been loved. We love and care and organize and show up because we’re all connected. We’re bound to one another in our shared humanity — the suffering and the joy.
May you know this love from the God who fashioned you and calls you by name. And may you share this love with your neighbors.
With gratitude,
Kim
The Beauty of Motherhood In the World
(Here’s what others are saying about our book!)
Spoiler alert: I’m not a mother. But I am a parent, a father even, and in picking up the new book The Beauty of Motherhood by Kimberly Knowle-Zeller and Erin Strybis found echoes of my own experience in these pages.
If you’re looking for a delicious drink to pair with reading our book, look no further than this mocktail from our friend Rachel.
Ways to help spread the word about The Beauty of Motherhood:
If you’ve bought and read the book, writing an Amazon review is SO helpful!
Ask your local library to purchase the book!
Consider inviting me to share with your church or mom’s group!
Buy for baby showers, baptisms, birthdays, or families in your church!
My Favorite Things
“We rarely see the fruits of our work as parents, especially in relation to our children’s faith. Yet God calls us to the tasks of parenting, and we should trust that these small moments with our children make a difference. Words matter. Prayers matter. Showing up at church matters. The blessings we offer our kids and the ways we care for our neighbors matter.” Read more about my thoughts on Slow Faith for Living Lutheran.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the state of the world and the feelings of uncertainty as we send our kids to school, my friend Laura shares small ways to keep caring and showing up for others in response to school shootings.
“My chest hurt from the pain and the beauty, from trying to carry it all in one day, all in one body. The thing is, I think it has to be carried together. We see the violence and the tragedy and we have to absorb it and acknowledge it in order to work sufficiently to fix it.” My friend Melissa shares powerful words in the aftermath of the Nashville school shooting.
What does motherhood mean to you? My friend Stacy shared her definitions of motherhood (spoiler alert, there are always requests for snacks).
If you’re looking for a reason to walk, this article points to the healing nature of putting one foot in front of the other.
April is National Poetry Month and I love my friend Crystal’s recommendations for poetry books for beginners. I’d also add anything by Mary Oliver!
What I’m Reading
Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story) by Daniel Nayeri. This was my book club book for March and it had mixed reviews from our group! The beginning took a while for me to get through, but once I reached the halfway point I was swept up in the story of Daniel and how his family became refugees.
Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood by Ashlee Gadd. This is a great book and ultimately a pep talk for the mother longing to create. There are journal prompts and creative exercises, and Ashlee’s experiences of following the call to mother and create.
So grateful for you, friend! I’ll be back in your inboxes the first Wednesday in May!
I love reading about your town and loved your story about how the community showed up to care. Love your newsletter!
I love this about small towns!!