Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Great Little Book for Parents!


Hints for Parents, by Gardiner Spring
With Gospel Encouragements by Tedd Tripp
(Shepherd Press, 2004), hb., 80 pp.

This is a great little book for all parents. Spring was a 19th century Presbyterian pastor who was highly regarded. His comments to parents have been edited (language updated) and Tedd Tripp has inserted comments and encouragements along the way. Much can and needs to be said about parenting, but this little book distills much of the pure gold about the general goals and procedures of raising children to know and love God. A brief piece by Archibald Alexander on teaching children using catechisms is also appended. I would encourage all parents to get this book.

Here are a few quotes to catch the flavor of the book:
“Many a child has been lost to himself, to his family, to the world, and to God, because he had little else to do but indulge himself.” 15

“If a child cannot be temperate, there is little hope that he will be holy or respectable as an adult.” 17

“A child’s mind is the door to his heart, and our children must think, feel, and consider clearly, before they will repent, pray, and love.” 17

“[quote from Tedd Tripp] Do whatever you must to give yourself to relationships that make home and family attractive to your children.’” 19

“This means that parents may need to deny themselves some creature comforts. Is this unthinkable in our current affluence? If by a few sacrifices you could purchase for your children the habit of loving their home, is any price too high? Those families are best educated, and exhibit the most moral feeling, which are most tenderly attached to home. Soon enough, our children will be extending their borders beyond it.” 19-20
I’ll post a few more quotes in another post.

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4 Comments:

At 5:52 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello Ray!

What a delight and blessing it is to have found this blog! My dear husband was reading Tom Ascoll's site and said, "Hey, don't you know a Ray Van Neste?", which of course, led us to this blog. I am thrilled! I wish we had found it sooner...you are a little further along in your homeschool chronological history (we will begin the Middle Ages after summer break), so your reviews would have helped me choose or better yet, NOT choose some books.

My copy of Tripp's Shepherding a Child's Heart is so worn and stained and dog-eared and loved that any mention of his name grabs my attention. I will definitely add this book to my Christmas list even if Tripp just "inserts comments". It sounds exactly like what I need when I get caught in the daily grind of teaching and raising our two boys (ages 9 and 6).

Thank you, Ray, and know for certain that you are bookmarked on my Apple!

Jetta Rast Seboly

 
At 2:33 PM, Blogger Ray Van Neste said...

Jetta! It is great to hear from you. Tripp's material is really helpful isn't it? I am really encouraged when the material here canbe helpful to families, so your comments mean much in addition simply to hearing from you.

 
At 7:35 PM, Blogger Jamie said...

Thanks, Ray!
Your blog on the subject of good solid whilesome kid's literature is much needed in the veggie-tale society we live in. Thanks for your recommendations and work!

-Jamie Bickel
ichron289.blogspot.com

 
At 8:40 PM, Blogger Ray Van Neste said...

Thanks for stopping by Jamie.

 

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