I preface this review by saying Sally Clarkson's 'The Life-giving Home' is among my absolute favorite books ever, so I was excited to read this new book by her and her husband, Clay. It begins with a separate foreword from both of them and then a preface and then launches into the 8 principles that they feel are key for life-giving parenting.
The principles are:
1. Numbering your child's days. Claiming the prime parental teaching period is a ten year period between 4 and around 14. They talk about the importance of teaching your children how to plan and set goals
2. Nurturing Your Child's Spirit. Through Instruction, modeling, training
3. Guarding Your Child's Heart. "Your children need your protection in three major areas: relationships, appetites, and influences."p69.
4. Renewing Your Child's Mind. "It's about bringing them into contact with the life of Christ through the mind." p84. They discuss the four signs of a disciple: yielding to God, stopping the world, Go to the word and show the way.
5. Strengthening Your Child's Faith. "The faith that you need to strengthen in your children is... about Jesus and how He changes everything" p105. They look at five facets of Biblical faith: belief, trust, assurance, allegiance and life.
6. Shaping Your Child's Will. 'It's about influencing their hearts to want to do the will of God' p129. He also discusses discipline in this chapter and brings up three aspects of corrective discipline: spiritual discipline, verbal discipline and behavioral discipline.
7. Cultivating Your Child's Character. "When you tell your children what they can do with God's help, you are connecting them with the living God who will help." p159
8. Forming Your Child's Imagination. "Without imagination...how can we have faith?...how can we experience the majesty and wonder and nearness of a mysterious God?" p173 "You are giving your children eyes to see and believe" p174
In summary I would say, another great book from the Clarkson's. Full of Biblical examples, and references, this book is very inspiring and helpful for all parents seeking to bring the best out of their children. I definitely recommend it! I really enjoyed reading it!
Please note that I received a copy of this book in exchange for review, however all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
You can purchase this book here.
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