Books for Every Parent

I don't have children, so I try not to tell people with children what to do. If I could make a suggestion, though, I would plead with parents to read two books: Sun Stand Still and Do Hard Things. I found both of these books by accident, but have been amazed and deeply impressed by the truth and direction they map out for our modern generations in areas in which we have clearly lost our way.

Sun Stand Still is primarily for adults, encouraging them to seek living, vibrant faith in their own spiritual life. Release the fear and inadequacy - don't settle for less than the God-sized dreams you were made for! This rallying call underpins another point I think many parents need to hear even more - don't raise your children to survive this world - raise them to change it. When they are merely infants in their cradles, pray for them and the work God will give them to do. Let them grow up hearing those prayers, seeing your faith and with the expectation seamlessly absorbed into them that they will do mighty things, regardless of what shape those dreams take. Everyone has different gifts, but we all have big promise. It's a proven fact (see Do Hard Things) that people - especially children - adjust to meet the expectations of them. They'll stretch mightily to reach high ones and slouch accordingly to conform to low ones. The question then must become are we as adults setting the bar high in all aspects of our children's lives - including faith? (Incidentally, I don't consider us non-parent adults exempt in this. We have our own unique opportunities to reach out, fostering growth and development in the youth around us.)

Do Hard Things is primarily written for teens, but it so thoroughly compliments Sun Stand Still that I think they should be sold as a boxed set. (Are you listening, Amazon?) The underpinning premise of Do Hard Things is that we, as a culture (through generations of misguided good intentions and their unexpected consequences) have cheated our youth and young adults out of some of the most foundational years of their lives. We no longer expect - or even allow - teenagers to take on the responsibilities and challenges that once defined those valuable years of their lives. Where individuals used to come of age - branching out in independence, learning hard lessons and life skills through trial and error, and setting the foundation for their futures - we have created a void.

Do Hard Things challenges teens to step outside the mold, to identify and create opportunities for themselves where society offers only low expectations. Adults - especially parents - need that message too. Culture and media make us believe people are bad parents if they let their kids take risks or get hurt. But if we don't help them reach and push themselves we smother them - and their potential to embrace giant, God-sized dreams for their lives. Look at the world around us - can we honestly afford not to raise world-changers?

I encourage every adult to make time to read these books (my library had them, so yours probably will too). Let yourself be blessed. Then ask yourself if you need to respond somehow to the truth on their pages, and how. I usually fall into the pessimistic camp when it comes to the future of the world, but I would dearly love to have my expectations proved wrong by a rising generation not afraid to take on the world because the adults in their lives taught them they could!

(Shared on Raising Homemakers Wednesday link-up)