The Silk Cafe

I am currently reading a book called "Effectively Parenting in a Defective World" by Chip Ingram, and throughly enjoying it (although I am only on page 35 of 175).
I have shared this with "the girls in the office" as well as some friends, but it has really made such an impact on me, that I would like to share it with you all.

At the start of the book he talks about having a positive and clear cut objectives for our children - naturally as a parent you want your children to be HAPPY, not so?
In his explanation this is not the correct way to raise your children (keeping them happy). At that moment, I almost put the book down, thinking "What is this man on about?" Boy oh boy, was I in for a reality check! These are 2 excepts from his book I would like to share with you.

" Because this keep-this-happy philosophy is so ingrained in our society we've bought into the lie that our children are deprived if they aren't invovled in soccer,ballet,baseball,gymnastics,piano and every other activity avaliable out there-all while wearing the "in" kinds of clothes with the right labels-even when their demanding schedule keeps us driving back and forth across town several times a day.It's really hard to resist the current of culture; resistance requires an intentional and persistant effort, especially when your kids try to convince you that you are persecuting them by going against the grain. But if we don't, the culture, not God, will bear its own fruit in our kids."

The next except is in the following chapter and this is the part that really made me sit up and think about how and what I do for my boys.

"This goal has nothing to do with hairstyles and sandals. Neither is it simply about stuffing a bunch of memory verses into your children's head, conforming to the culture of certain denominations or rididly observing a daily quiet time. Our task is is higher and more ambitious than that. In fact, it's supernatural, and will require supernatural help. The point is for your children to be kind like Jesus, disciplined like Jesus, others-centrered like Jesus, and holy and pure not because they have to, but because they love Jesus and want to be like him"

So for me, as a mom to an almost 8 year old and 9 year old, there are definitely things I need to reconsider,change etc. and I am excited to do that, knowing what a powerful impact it will make on their lives.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this.....

All my love
Sue