Savannah Guthrie’s new book about faith helped fellow “Today” co-host Hoda Kotb navigate a “difficult” parenting moment.
The mother of two revealed on Wednesday’s episode of her “Making Space with Hoda Kotb” podcast that she recently reread the latter’s book — “Mostly What God Does: Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere” — amid a crisis with one of her daughters.
“You know, what’s funny, I read the book when you first sent [it] to me — chapter by chapter,” Kotb, 59, said.
“And I reread it last night when I was going through a difficult time with my daughter and I was worried, ‘Am I enough? Am I doing it right?'”
Hotb, who broke down in tears while recounting the feelings of doubt, recalled one specific line that helped her get through those emotions.
“It’s so interesting because there is a part in here that — I don’t remember where it is now because I have so many dog ears — but it makes a parallel on how God loves us like how we love our own children,” she explained.
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“I had already read that, by the way, a few months ago and it didn’t hit me but it hit me last night like it was meant for me in that moment.”
Although Kotd didn’t reveal exactly what went down with her daughter the night prior, the co-hosts agreed that motherhood is the most “transformative” and gratifying experience — despite the moments of difficulty.
Guthrie shares daughter Vale, 9, and son Charley, 7, with her husband, Mike Feldman.
Kotb, for her part, is mom to daughters Haley, 7, and Hope, 4, whom she and ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman adopted in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
The longtime NBC anchor’s faith was put to the test in February 2023 when her youngest was hospitalized after a “really scary” health complication.
Although Kotb kept most of the details of the medical emergency private, she did say that Hope was in the ICU “for a few days” and hospitalized for “more than a week.”
“I’m so grateful she’s home,” she noted in March. “We are watching her closely. I am just so happy.”
Despite taking time off to handle the situation, Kotb eventually returned to the show full-time after Hope gained some of her strength back.
“To watch her go through a difficult time at just 3 years old is really tough for any parent because you’re helpless,” Kotb shared on Southern Living’s “Biscuits & Jam” podcast in April 2023.
“But I think you realize just how incredibly resilient and strong she is. I think sometimes you learn life’s lessons from the most amazing places.”
She later told Pvnew that despite having a “long road” to recovery, her youngest was “doing much better” and “making great progress.”
Both Hope and Haley went on to visit their mom at work in November of last year to participate in a Thanksgiving segment.
The two girls were all smiles as they joined their mom in Studio 1A for their first TV appearance since the medical scare.
