What I am Reading: The Life Giving Parent

With summer winding down and us getting back to school I am glad to be getting some September reading into my schedule. I had pre-ordered this book, The Lifegiving Parent back in May and it has been sitting on my night stand waiting to be read for the past few months. I finally had a chance to pick it up and start reading and was greatly encouraged!

One of the things you should know before reading this book is that is is written by the husband of Sally Clarkson, Clay (with some memoirs at the end by his wife). It was a nice change and the book covers many important aspects of parenting that will bless the new parent as well as the old.

(some fresh baked cookies from our kitchen)

You might be familiar with their other books such as The Ministry of Motherhood, Our 24 Family Ways, The Mission of Motherhood,  & Educating the Whole-Hearted Child. 


The Table of Contents to this book are as listed below:

1. HEARTBEATS OF PARENTAL LIFEGIVING
2. Numbering Your Child's Days
3. Nurturing Your Child's Spirit
4. Guarding Your Child's Heart
5. Renewing Your Child's Mind
6. Strengthening Your Child's Faith
7. Shaping Your Child's Will
8. Cultivating Your Child's Character
9. Forming Your Child's Imagination

11. LIVING AS A LIFEGIVING PARENT
One Life to Give
Our Lifegiving Parent's Story
Growing Your Child's Values
Knowing Your Child's Personality


In the beginning of the book I really loved how Clay explains at the beginning that he wants his children to have a "heart of wisdom" which is a theme that I have adopted for our children every school year. I always want them to know from right and wrong and be inclined to do what is right as they follow God's heart. In a culture that is quickly abandoning wisdom and making gray the lines of truth, we need to teach our children to not be afraid to take a stand.

Here are a few quotes from the book:

"It’s not about being a political or social “culture warrior” for the family but about definitively, and maybe even defiantly, building a home where the living God of Creation is undeniably living through the family within it."

"Our children's spirits are hard wired by God to look to us first for the spiritual influence they long for because of God's image within them. If they don't get it from us, they'll seek it elsewhere."

"Numbering your children's days is less about accomplishing yet one more task of parenting and more about creating a rhythm of life in your family."

I also like these snapshots of how to help grow your child's values (you can click on the image to zoom in):

In case you didn't know, this book is part of a set of series that include the popular books The Life Giving Home and The Life Giving Table. I definitely recommend them all and have shared about them here in the past.

WISE WOMAN TIP: Right now you can get this book on sale for over 30% for a limited time, so I hope you don't miss it if you have been wanting to read it!


You can find The Lifegiving Parent HERE.

(Pssst...The Lifegiving Parent Companion Guide is on sale too!)

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