Anniversary blog #4 — Published !!

Dec 11, 2017 | Direction

Published !  The book that inspired the blog became a reality in November— Child-Centered Spirituality: Helping children develop their own spirituality. .

We talk with our children about the importance of school work, about physical health, about how to navigate social difficulties. We even talk with them about sex, drugs, and internet safety…or if we don’t we know we should. Why do we find it so difficult to talk with children about God?

This is a book to help you engage with the children in your life about their spiritual needs. You can order here,

Our team celebrates this published milestone.

Each team member–Tara Miller, Alisha Ule, Michelle Coe and Annette Schalk—had a vital part in producing the book or blog.  And I am looking ahead to what’s coming!

In development

published book helps boyA workshop about Child-Centered Spirituality in Pasadena, CA in April 2018 and seed ideas are emerging:

  • Your unique role and responsibilities within the spiritual development of the important children in your life.
  • Understand that children develop their spirituality according to their personality and temperament.
  • A Spiritual Style assessment can help us be more focused on best practices with each child.

We want your feedback!

published book feedbackAfter you’ve read the book, what questions do you have? What worked? What didn’t work for you?  Here’s some early feedback from one reader:  “I might subtitle your book ‘conversation starters.’ Since each of us has a ‘God sized hole’ in our heart, this book helps parents and others recognize or initiate a spiritual issue (question), and respond well. As a parent I missed way too many opportunities because I wasn’t prepared, either for the question, or with a good answer. Your book is prep101.”

A word of appreciation

Thanks to each reader who found ideas here worth using with kids, and an extra cheer when you let us know that it made a difference in the child’s life. We wish you all the best in the coming year!

To thank you for supporting us, we are giving away a free copy of the book to two lucky winners.  Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tweetable: Publication of “Child-Centered Spirituality” book highlights the 4th anniversary of a practical, helpful website. Click to Tweet

Do Christmas with a different attitude

Dec 4, 2017 | Nurture

Christmas attitudeChristmas. The late journalist Harry Reasoner called it a “tremendous burst of gift buying, parties and near hysteria [done in the name of] a quiet event that Christians believe happened a long time ago.” Let’s be people who show kids how to do December with a different attitude.

Attitude #1: Be gracious

 If you are a non-Christian — Accept Christmas graciously.

Maybe you have personal history of your deeply held, non-Christian perspective/faith being trampled on by the majority. Perhaps they’ve been insensitive to you since childhood, but you can aim high and wish your fellow citizens all the joys to which their beliefs entitle them.

If you are a Christian —  Accept unbelief graciously.

Christmas attitudesSome Christians feel such a dramatic shock in their heart when others find the birth of Jesus to be irrelevant. You can become angry and lose the capacity to promote peace. Different people have different beliefs and you really can’t expect that everyone should share yours. Aim high and remember that different perspectives are okay.

Attitude #2: Remain composed

If you are a non-Christian —  Accept Christmas respectfully.

The Christmas story has a magnificent appeal, Jesus coming as a baby to show what God is like. Most people like babies–if God wanted to be loved, God moved correctly here. If God wanted to be intimate with humankind, God moved correctly, for the experiences of birth and familyhood are among the most intimate and precious experiences.* It just might be easier to remain composed when you focus on this perspective.

If you are a Christian — Accept unbelief respectfully.

The whole story that a virgin was selected by God to bear God’s son as a way of showing love and concern for humanity is not an idea that has been popular, even with some theologians. Remain composed by admitting that it is a somewhat illogical idea and God does not, and you ought not, force anyone to accept it. Instead, focus on loving people as Jesus did.

 Attitude #3: Cultivate and feed goodwill

How?  A lesson in these excerpts from the poem Anyway by Dr. Kent M. Keith

  • People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered. Forgive them anyway.
  • If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.
  • The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway.

*I’m paraphrasing Harry Reasoner here.

Tweetable: Goodbye Christmas hysteria. Show kids how to do December with a different attitude. Click to Tweet
 

My new book, Child-centered Spirituality: Helping children develop their own spirituality, is now available on Amazon – just in time for the holidays!

Where did Grandma go when she died?

Why doesn’t God stop bad things from happening?

Many parents have experienced a child asking difficult spiritual questions– usually at inopportune moments. While we stumble around trying to think of an answer, we feel inadequate… and sometimes startled by their questions. If you’re like most adults, you try your hardest to avoid thinking much about questions like these. So why on earth is a child asking you about them?

We talk with our children about the importance of school work, about physical health, about how to navigate social difficulties. We even talk with them about sex, drugs, and internet safety… or if we don’t, we know we should.

So why do we find it so difficult to talk with children about God?

Whether you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, foster parent, or other caregiver, this is a book to help you engage with the children in your life about their spiritual needs.

Purchase your copy in paperback here.

If you prefer the Kindle version, you can purchase it here.