The Gift of Values - Volume Two

“Some would say values are better caught than taught. But both approaches are needed. It respects a child’s intellect to explain clearly what generosity is, for instance, and why we should be generous. The Gift of Values is an excellent tool for teaching values. Use it while you also demonstrate consistency in living out those values before your children, and you will effectively pass on Godly values to the next generation.” – Dave & Neta Jackson, authors of the Trailblazer Books and Hero Tales, USA

“Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and wisdom in your series, The Gift of Values.  I have been struggling with our morning devotions – trying to inspire our six children, who are all different ages, and trying to keep them all interested. Your book really has been an answer to prayer. I feel like God has touched my heart and kissed my forehead.” – Joanne, New Zealand

“Well done for writing such a readable, entertaining, honest and challenging book!” – Barbara, New Zealand

“Hear O Israel; the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with allyour soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them whenyou sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Over the last 17 years of home schooling I have spent many wonderful hours doing family devotions with the children. It has been the joy and the heart of our home schooling. Many women began asking me to write about what I’ve learned over these years, and what I found to be effective. So finally, I put pen to paper and wrote the first volume in a set of four intended books for parents to use in their family devotions.

Rosie

I couldn’t wait to write this book. For many years I’ve dreamed about having time to write down some of the things that have worked in our family, and share them with others. With six busy, noisy children, free time is not something I have a lot of. I teach the children at home, and although it is one of the greatest joys of my life, home-schooling is both demanding and time consuming. However, Jacob, my youngest will be six next week, and I have just finished applying for my last home-schooling exemption today! That makes me very aware that nothing lasts forever. Josiah, our firstborn, will be seventeen this year. I am very conscious of how little time we have left with him in our home, and I’m
so grateful I have been able to home-school him all these years. Yes, I stillfeel sad when I think about him leaving home, but I’m not consumed with regrets over all the things I wish I’d done with him, and the time I should have spent with him. That is the greatest gift home-schooling has given me – TIME. Time with my children, time to disciple them in the ways of the Lord, time to enjoy them.
For the past twelve years, the children and I have cuddled up on the sofa each morning and enjoyed devotions together. This is the heart of our homeschooling. We take as long as we like and don’t skimp on this all important part of our day. Over the years we’ve studied the Bible, read hundreds of stories, worked our way through many inspiring devotionals, and devoured countless biographies. Every six months, I have used a portion of my homeschooling money to purchase devotional books, and have amassed quite a collection. While being very aware of all the wonderful books available on this topic, I have had a persistent urge to write yet another one, relating our own journey and the things that have ‘worked’ in our family.
My aim in writing this book is to give you, the parent, a resource you can use in your own family devotions – something that is simple and usable.I don’t want you to have to wade through pages of writing just to glean a few things that you can integrate into your own family experience. I have laid it out in such a way that you can pick it up and follow it through step by step.
Alternatively, you can use one small portion at a time. I have deliberately not made this an exhaustive study of each topic, despite the very real temptation! I have tried to keep it fairly streamlined and un-daunting.
For those of you who have children in school, the thought of having family devotions may seem like the straw that would break the camel’s back.
I’m aware of the hectic rush it can be in the morning to get your children off to school on time. I hope this book will be so easy to read and use, that you will feel inspired to snatch even just a few moments of your busy day and enjoy some special time with your child. Remember, every moment counts.
We can feel discouraged if we don’t achieve all our goals, but rather, we should be celebrating every small step along the way. If you feel daunted at the ideaof family devotions, start small. But try to make it a habit. Remember, great oaks grow from little acorns!
For those of you who have struggled with family devotions, and found them more a curse than a blessing, my hope is that this book will make you think, “I can do this!”
And for those of you who have yet to embark on the wonderful journey of family devotions, my prayer is that this book will be just what you need to get you started.
This is my gift to you. – Rosie