NOTE: This review originally appeared on The Loving Mothers Blog and is used with permission.
My Initial Thoughts:
Instructing a Child’s Heart, by Tedd and Margy Tripp is one of the most thought-provoking, yet practical parenting books I have ever read. This is not an ordinary quick tip parenting book, but rather a book that challenges the parent to apply solid biblical truth over the long haul. Tedd and Margy Tripp encourage the parents, along with using biblical examples, to look beyond the behavior of the child and instead, deal with the issues of the heart. Both authors write with a profoundly biblical perspective on the human heart, helping us to examine our own hearts and be prepared to help train and nurture the children that God entrusted in our care. This is no easy task as we are instructed to begin our training before problems arise. We are admonished to build a worldview that begins in the heart and focuses on God.
About Instructing a Child’s Heart:
The book is divided into several parts beginning with formative instruction, attention to the heart, the principle of sowing and reaping, and the importance of the church. Each chapter directs the reader to scriptures for reference and gives examples of how to implement such teachings. The authors write that we, the parents, should not trivialize the Gospel to be “relevant,” but allow the Word of God to be different than all other literature as it’s truth and it’s life (Deuteronomy 32:45-47).
They write on such topics as the strong need for family worship, which should include songs, prayers, and bible reading and faithful church attendance. The authors admonish us to provide our children with consistent, persuasive, and biblical understanding of the world God made. We are to impress truth on the hearts of our children, not to control or manage them, but to point them towards a relationship with the Lord.
What I Learned:
We as parents want a quick fix to our rebellious Suzy, a few helpful tips to survive the week, and answers to solve all of our parenting struggles. But there are no simple formulas that we can apply to our parenting. Shaping the hearts our children requires a long-term commitment with long range goals. It requires that both parents are equally committed to marriage and family. And this kind of parenting will cost you time and energy. It’s not for the faint at heart. It will require a life sold out to the Lord and an understanding of basic bible truths. And it will require a life built upon prayer. But I have learned that the greatest gift in life often come with the greatest sacrifice.
“Solid parenting skills are built on solid truths.” – Tedd Tripp
My Favorite Quotes from Tedd and Margy Tripp in Instructing a Child’s Heart:
“The bible ascribes reasoning and thinking to the hearts because the heart is the center of one’s being. The heart is where we think, grieve, rejoice, love, hate, desire, fear, pray, and so forth. The heart is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23)
“Instructing a child’s heart is not simply transferring data from parent to child. It is impressing the heart with truth.”
“Your greatest need is to understand deep truths from the Bible. Solid parenting skills are built on solid truth.”
“If you want your children to have a reason to sing on Sunday, give them a glorious God. If you want your children to have a reason not to sin on Monday, give them a glorious God.”
“We cannot impress our children with the fame of God’s name if we are not impressed with him ourselves.”
“…our goal is not to maintain control at any cost; it is rather to persuade. Influence and persuasion are always more important than discipline.”
“Our central objective in instruction, discipline and correction is heart change, not behavior change. This profoundly shapes how we view consequences.”
Where Can I Buy Instructing a Child’s Heart?
You can purchase your copy of Instructing a Child’s Heart here on amazon.
It also is available in a DVD set, Kindle Edition, and as an Audio Book! A Spanish edition is also available on the Shepherd Press website.
Take Away:
Instructing a Child’s Heart takes a look at the long-term goals of parenting. We need to focus on the heart instead of attempting to control “bad” behaviors. The ultimate goal is that we, our children, and our grandchildren may fear the Lord and walk in His ways, enjoying a long life. May I boldly declare that we need to return to the bible for our parenting needs, as the authors suggest. We need to declare Joshua 24:15 in our homes: “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” I strongly recommend that you get this book! It will challenge you and teach you so much valuable parenting advice that will help you in the long run. I love this book and can’t wait to read more by two of my favorite authors, Tedd and Margy Tripp.
I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did! Let me know what you thought about the book in the comment section below and be sure to like a share the post! Also, go read my review of Shepherding a Child’s Heart and check out all of the other books and authors by Shepherd Press!
