Parenting With Spirit

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.

As difficult as it can be for parents to cultivate their own spirituality amid the frenzy of their lives, it can be even harder to nurture their children's spiritual development. In Parenting with Spirit, author Jane Bartlett offers parents an inspiring yet practical way to both encourage and celebrate spirituality in their children and their family lives. These 30 child-friendly and interesting ideas include: creating rituals for the holidays, seasons, other festivities; going for nature walks, holding family meetings, storytelling with and without books, pursuing creative activities like art, music, and dance; turning everyday activities into play, and much more. Perfect for parents who are looking for ways to bring their family closer together or simply want to show their kids that life is full of potential and purpose, Parenting with Spirit is sure to add depth and magic to every family's life.

Whether you want to mention God to your child, or another word or phrase you feel more comfortable with - or simply that life is full of potential and purpose, and that it is possible to make your dreams come true, 'Parenting with Spirit' sets out principles to share with your child. These include: A realization of how truly precious we are. An appreciation of the wonder of life in all its majesty and mystery. A deep sense that there is a unity to all things, and that we are all connected to each other and the Earth. An understanding of the power of love in our lives. The ability to use the imagination, playfulness and creativity as a gateway to the spiritual. These can be used as foundation by parents of all major faiths, and those who prefer a less established path. Jane Bartlett also suggests strategies to incorporate these into the time-pressured, hands-on, demanding, and often chaotic process of parenting, showing how to bring some magic into family life.

"Spiritual Parenting is a guide to the naturally intuitive and spiritual core of every child. It refutes the current notions of the basic nature of children and teenagers, while offering a radically new way to approach parenting. In the words of authors, counselors, and ministers Hugh and Gayle Prather, "This book reflects our deep personal conviction that parenting is a spiritual path, a form of worship." In their characteristically warm style, the Prathers offer a book of principles that parents can use to understand and protect their children at home, at school, and in the world. While one does not have to believe in God to understand these principles, say the Prathers, parents must approach child care as a spiritual task. They offer ways to keep this essential focus amid the bewildering complexities involved in guiding children toward adulthood." "With joy and a sense of humor, the Prathers offer stories and anecdotes about their own children and the children of families they have counseled to help today's parents break through conflicting ideas and emotions and learn to enjoy their children at all stages of their growth."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Spirit-Led Parenting Over the years, a mainstream approach to Christian parenting has emerged, and it's one that promotes sleep training and feeding schedules for infants, warns that spoiled children and marital discord are certain by-products of homes where newborns are over-indulged, and promotes these methods as the Biblical way to care for a new baby. Unfortunately, the message of mainstream parenting advice preys on the universal fear of new parents everywhere: the fear that if they stray from the program, their babies and their marriages will suffer. In Spirit-Led Parenting: From Fear to Freedom in Baby's First Year, two mothers share their stories. They tell of a journey that began in fear-soaked, tear-stained days marked by an overwhelming fear of failure that eventually found redemption in discovering the freedom to ignore the wisdom of man and follow the direction of the Spirit. · This gentle path looks toward the example of God the Father, seeks after Christ's unequivocal call to servanthood, and leans upon the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in determining and meeting the individual needs of each unique child. · Spirit-Led Parenting doesn't encourage a methodology, but rather a mindset. This outlook on parenting is radically different from what has become the trend in Christian circles, and yet the authors believe that it is firmly rooted in and supported by Scripture. · Throughout the book, the authors show how parenting with a spirit-led approach has allowed them to become more peaceful, happy mothers, more intimately connected to their husbands, and closer and more surrendered to Christ. Sharing from their unique experiences as well as their shared philosophy, Megan and Laura play the role of big sisters, wrapping their arms around the shoulder of the new mother trying to navigate the confusing world of life with a baby and answering those important questions: "What if the 'right' way doesn't feel 'right'?" and "Could there be more than one way to honor God as I care for my baby?" There is another way. That's what they wish they had been told as new mothers. And it's the message they are passionate about sharing with new parents everywhere.