At the time I found this book, I was desperate for some practical advice on how to use scripture in day-to-day discipline, particularly with my eldest child.
I knew I needed a model - a mom whose values and beliefs were similar to mine, who could show me how to do what I knew needed to be done.
And I found what I needed in this slim book. This book is priceless to me, because it demonstrated with many, many, examples, how to look at problem behaviours, analyse them in the light of scripture, and gently approach my child with the aim of working a love of virtue into his/her heart.
One of many great examples of this can be found in Chapter 7: Managing the Manipulater:
“God has given parents intructions for how to respond to manipulation:
‘Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, lest he be wise in his own eyes.’ (Prov. 26:4-5).
…
Example #1
Your daughter is having a great time playing “dress up:” in her room. You tell her that she can play for five more minutes and then she needs to clean up her room because it’s time for lunch. In a whiney voice she says, “But whyyyyyy?”
...
How are you going to respond?
A. You can answer her according to her folly and say, “Because you have been playing for an hour and I just told you it’s time for lunch.”
B. You can answer her as her folly deserves and say, “Honey, could it be that you are more interested in playing ‘dress up’ than pleasing the Lord? God says, “Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord” (Col. 3:20).
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If you are looking for scriptural parenting wisdom, this book is gold. Let me know what you think!
3 comments:
Powerful. I think my main parenting style when I am not being mindful about it is to answer "according to his folly."
Thanks for the review. I was wondering about this book!
I agree, this book has some jewels in it. And I found it more enjoyable to read and more useful overall than the books it was based off of (Sheparding etc).
Rachel (stella)
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