When I heard about this book it definitely intrigued me…yes the world that we live in today is different than the world I grew up in.  It is full of uncertainties and questions. Our kids are overexposed, over indulged, and often lose their innocents at very young ages, but is this world we live it hostile?

I wasn’t sure what the author,  Johann Christoph Arnold was going to say, but I was at least very curious.

Reading through the pages I quickly saw his point of view….

As a society, our children spends hours on technology and many of our families are in crisis. I hear stories about disconnected parents, and children who feel like they have everything and nothing. Stress is at an all time high, divorce rates are at 50%, who do we think pays the highest cost for this…our children.

 I saw an advertisement on TV the other day that got my attention where children are encouraging their parents to use their vacation days…. I remember being young and thinking how could you not use your vacation days, but I am sure you know it happens way more than we think.

As a mother and a wife, I often find balancing life, home, and sanity difficult with all my responsibilities and all those wants pulling at me it’s easy to get distracted.  I often wrestle with guilt when I think through my choices about home, work, and well my own personal desires.

I think of the questions and decisions that I will share with my daughter as she continues to grow, hoping she will learn from my mistakes and not repeat them with her own family.

Their Name is Today, brings these challenges and their effects on our children to the forefront.  Honestly, I think at this time in our society this is a much needed dialogue.  Johann, is just the right voice at the right time.  He has 8 children of his own, 44 grand children, he is a pastor, and he has sold over a million books . 

Johann gives us the insight that we need.  He shows us how good intentions can turn into bad outcomes and how we may want to look just a little closer at how our actions are hurting our children.

Every parent wants their child to do well, have the best life and grow into a great citizen that adds something to the societies and communities they live in, but are we giving them the tools they need to do it?

In this book, you can see how the most well meaning things and values are being lost, or not being taught at all.

Gratefulness as a necessary lesson. For our children who often are given so much even though they have to do so little to earn it, they need to be reminded that gratitude is necessary and important whether you are 6 months old or 100 years old.

What about the value of playing, and problem solving? These are necessary tools our children need for life.

He shares that our need to make our children geniuses and successful make it harder for them to become healthy adults.  He shows us how we are introducing stress into our children’s lives in ways that are not healthy.  His challenge to us is help your children develop and appreciate their own talents by cultivating them instead of trying to make your children experts before their time. He warns us to stop making our children live out our dreams, hopes and expectations, and let them become who they are.

There is plenty of food for thought here as he talks about the examples that you set forth for your children.  He reminds us that our children watch us and often follow our examples, not our words.  He encourages disciple and boundaries. and he shares stories that bring your mistakes front and center, and give you opportunities to grow and develop as a parent and as a person.

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Their Name is Today, was full of great information that I found both valuable and insightful.  Johann presents the facts, and the questions that we all have to answer and pay attention to as you walk through life.

Johann doesn’t judge, he presents the information so you can look at it and determine where you need to make changes.  I felt like he was a fellow sojourner sharing the mistakes and insights he’s learned along the way.  

 

What I appreciated most about the book, what his gentle nudges that reminded me that there is work for all of us to do, not just for our children, but for the children of the world who count on us to make the world they live in just a little safer, while we still have time.

This book was an amazing read for me as a parent, as a leader in the community,in other organizations, and in church.  This would be a great read for anyone especially those who have a passion for children. It is a book that sounds the alarm and brings some very valid issues to the surface. 

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Disclosure:  I was given for review this book from our friends at Propeller Consulting, LLC. The opinions are my own.  Giveaway rules:  One entry per mailing address, per giveaway. Winners is subject to eligibility verification.  If you are looking for some additional resources for children, take a look at these.