Raising Spiritual Children is a practical resource for parents who want to raise their children to be whole, healthy, and capable of using their spiritual gifts with wisdom. What does it mean to have spiritual gifting? How can we help our spiritually gifted children's stay on the right path? What do our children's dreams mean? This book answers these questions and many more. Book jacket.
In The Spiritual Child, psychologist Lisa Miller presents the next big idea in psychology: the science and the power of spirituality. She explains the clear, scientific link between spirituality and health and shows that children who have a positive, active relationship to spirituality: * are 40% less likely to use and abuse substances * are 60% less likely to be depressed as teenagers * are 80% less likely to have dangerous or unprotected sex * have significantly more positive markers for thriving including an increased sense of meaning and purpose, and high levels of academic success. Combining cutting-edge research with broad anecdotal evidence from her work as a clinical psychologist to illustrate just how invaluable spirituality is to a child's mental and physical health, Miller translates these findings into practical advice for parents, giving them concrete ways to develop and encourage their children's—as well as their own—well-being. In this provocative, conversation-starting book, Dr. Miller presents us with a pioneering new way to think about parenting our modern youth.
It's hard enough to train kids to behave, but good behavior isn't what Jesus calls for in the Bible. He wants hearts and souls that are shaped in vibrant faith and love toward God and others. How can parents cultivate this in their children? In this book Dr. Michelle Anthony shares practical examples and biblical insight on the spiritual role of parenting. Spiritual Parenting introduces the simple but revolutionary concept that parents are, by the power of God's Spirit, to obey and depend on God in order to create an environment God can use to beckon their children to Him.
Tain Gregory was present in his third grade classroom on the morning of December 14, 2012, the date of the Sandy Hook shootings. As part of the healing process for the community after the tragedy Tain was asked "What's the most important thing in the world to you?" His mother expected an answer about a video game or Pokemon trading card. Tain thought for a moment then answered with one word. "God." Until that moment, Tain's mother had no idea how close to the surface Tain's faith existed for him. This is a fascinating look at the journey of two souls, both Tain's and his mother's, that began with Tain enrolling in Sunday School and led to a strong life of faith for both of them. In This Child of Faith, Sophfronia and Tain share stories, experience and ideas to help parents get to the heart of a question that becomes more perturbing as our world grows ever more complicated: How do you help a child have faith—real faith, something he or she owns and not a regurgitation of something they've heard? How do you create a life space where they can learn to understand what they believe? Tain's stories include early encounters with death and, of course, the shootings at Sandy Hook where he was present in his third grade classroom on the morning of December 14, 2012. Tain is now entering an age where his peers are questioning everything and saying "everything just goes black" when you die, but because of his faith, Tain knows differently. “In this beautiful and timely memoir, mother and son share insights from a family’s spiritual awakening, a journey that led to a deep experience of God and a new way of life in the world. Not only do they offer practical advice on faith formation, but they tackle a difficult question: How does faith prepare us not only life’s joys but for its most shocking tragedies? The answer is deceptively simple: by paying attention to the Spirit and trusting one another. Read this one and weep. And discover the hope of a child.” —Diana Butler Bass, Author, Grounded: Finding God in the World, A Spiritual Revolution “When children begin to ask the big questions in life, many parents feel unprepared. What's more, their own yearning to find meaning, hope, and a deeper faith may be ignited. In this unblinkingly honest and tender work, Sophfronia Scott and her son, Tain, share their journey of faith. From her roots growing up in a large Baptist family in Ohio, to her spiritual curiosity as a Harvard undergrad, to her commitment to honor her young son’s request to attend Sunday School, Sophfronia gently models how to nurture the innate spirituality and faith of a child. In doing so, her own faith grows and deepens as well. And when the trials come, such as the deaths of several people close to her and her family, she is more prepared to help Tain understand and accept these losses. This Child of Faith doesn’t claim to know all the answers, but it serves as a moving testimony to the power of faith when a family embarks upon the journey together.” —Rev. Andrea Raynor, author of Incognito: Lost and Found at Harvard Divinity School
With the seemingly insurmountable pressures placed on families today, many parents lack the spiritual foundation and practical knowledge to chart a clear-cut course in child-rearing. Parents question whether nurturing their children's souls is even possible in the fast-paced materialistic culture in which we live. Utilizing the insight that springs from her knowledge of Torah wisdom, her personal experiences and the experiences of those she has counseled, Slovie Jungreis-Wolff, a longtime parenting coach and advisor to young couples and families teaches in detail how to approach the entire gamut of issues, with a special emphasis on strengthening the child's morality and character. Parents will learn how to: • Instill simchas hachayim, "true joy," in their children • Value chessed, kindness, in a self-absorbed world • Create a mikdash me'at, a home filled with calm and reflection • Teach children gratitude and appreciation • And much more... From discipline to sibling rivalry to effective communication skills, Raising a Child with Soul offers unique concepts and pragmatic ideas that can be understood and applied to both Jewish and non-Jewish households.
"The fastest growing religion in America is--none! Among adults under 30, those poised to be the parents of the next generation, fully one third are religiously unaffiliated. Yet these "Nones," especially parents, still face prejudice in a culture where religion is widely seen as good for your kids. What do Nones believe, and how do they negotiate tensions with those convinced that they ought to provide their children with a religious upbringing?"--Publisher description.
How the daily practices of life with children can shape our faith In the Midst of Chaos explores parenting as spiritual practice, building on Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore's fresh conceptions of children from her book Let the Children Come. She questions conventional perceptions that spiritual practices require silence, solitude, and uninterrupted prayer and that assume a life unburdened by care of others. She is both honest about the difficulties and attentive to the blessings present in everyday life and demonstrates that the life of faith encompasses children and the adults who care for them. Miller-McLemore explores how parents might use seven daily practices, such as play, reading, chores, and saying goodbye or goodnight as rich opportunities to shape both parent and child morally and spiritually. Through these experiences, she shows how the very care of children forms and reforms the faith of adults themselves, contrary to the belief that adults must form children. In the Midst of Chaos also goes beyond the typical focus on individual self-fulfillment by tackling difficult questions of social justice and mutuality in the ways families live together. Readers will find in this book an invitation to love those around them in the midst of life's craziness and to live more deeply in grace.
How do you walk with your children during times of struggle and crisis? Do you feel as if nothing you do will be enough? In Mary's Way, a heartfelt book for moms who struggle to guide children through the various stages of their lives, Catholic speaker and teacher Judy Landrieu Klein shows how her own crisis of faith helped her release her children to the care of the Blessed Mother. In doing so, Klein shows you how to find the love, joy, and peace of Our Lord as you surrender your will to him. Judy Landrieu Klein struggled with her faith as she lived through her son’s near-fatal addiction to drugs and her daughter’s painful anxiety. She discovered she couldn’t handle the relentless pressure of life not measuring up to her expectations and it was eating away at her family. Klein considered Mary’s reaction to the events in the life of Jesus. She meditated on Mary’s fiat and her prayer of total surrender to God’s will and saw how this act of obedience carried on throughout Mary’s life as she witnessed the life of her son. As Klein focused on her devotion to the Blessed Mother, her life and faith were transformed. In Mary’s Way, Klein reflects on the Annunciation and describes her own to struggle to embrace the will of God by surrendering control of her family planning. She meditates on Mary’s powerlessness during the Crucifixion, finding a place of calming surrender during her own son’s escalating battle with addiction. Klein shows how you can become a more powerful intercessor for yourself and your children. When you finish reading this book, you’ll find yourself turning to Mary and surrendering yourself and your children more fully to God.
A look at faith through the voices of children from varied religious backgrounds, by the Pulitzer-winning author of The Moral Intelligence of Children. A New York Times Notable Book What do children think about when they consider God, Heaven and Hell, the value of life in the here and now, and the inevitability of death? Child psychiatrist, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, and Harvard professor Robert Coles spent thirty years interviewing hundreds of children—from South America and Europe to Africa and the Middle East—who are developing concepts of faith even as they struggle to understand its contradictions. Be they Catholic or Protestant, Jewish children from Boston, Pakistani children in London, agnostics, Native Americans, or young Christians in the American South, they offer honest, enlightening and sometimes startling ideas of a spiritual existence. A Hopi girl who knows for a fact that we are resurrected as birds; an African American child who believes God exists as a hurricane to “blow away” drug dealers; a young Christian who needs his faith to cope with the death of his sister, lest she be just “a big heartache to us till the day we die”; and a Tennessee child who rationalizes his belief by admitting that “if there's no God, that's all there is, ashes.” The Spiritual Life of Children is “a remarkable book. The generosity of vision that characterizes Dr. Coles's enterprise enables him to create a climate where words of great beauty and truthfulness can be spoken.” —The New York Times
In the path of parenthood, there exists no higher aspiration than to grow our children into well-rounded individuals who are not just emotionally and intellectually robust but also spiritually anchored. In the fast-changing society we live in, when diversions and temptations abound, fostering a sense of spirituality in our children becomes vital. "Raising a spiritual child" is a compass for parents eager to embark on this profound and gratifying quest. This guide aims to examine the multidimensional domain of spirituality and provide practical insights on how to grow it inside the hearts and brains of our children. Drawing from historical wisdom, current psychology, and real-life experiences, we will delve into the art of cultivating spirituality that transcends religious boundaries, helping children to create a strong moral compass, find purpose, and cultivate inner serenity. Throughout this trip, we will unearth the techniques and skills to empower parents, guardians, and mentors in their goal to develop spiritual champions. From fostering open communication to negotiating hard concerns, we will explore the practical aspects of helping your child's spiritual development. As we embark on this transforming adventure together, let us embrace the opportunity to change the future by molding young hearts, minds, and souls into beacons of light in a world that urgently needs them. "Raising Spiritual children" presents a blueprint to assist you in traveling this sacred path, and by doing so, nurture the spiritual champions of the future.
