My Thoughts
I post a lot about the books I read because I want to share some of the knowledge that I pick up along the way. Well, I recently finished reading Parenting Unchained: Overcoming the Ten Deceptions That Shackle Christian Parents from Dr. James D. Dempsey and I wanted to share some valuable lessons I learned as I read.
My first lesson is that this book will totally change how you parent. If you are anything like me, you may often wonder if you are really messing up this parenting thing!
Let me offer you some hope…if you worry, then you just might be on the right track. Another truth lesson, the only way to parent better is to lean way deep into the arms of God. The Ultimate Father.
As I began reading the book, I felt like my life preserver was finally within reach. I felt that this man, Dr. Dempsey, seriously knows what he is talking about.
The lies that I have been told about parenting…well, they sort of blew me away when I read this book. How could I have been so blind?! This was a question I asked myself numerous times during my reading.
The devil is a sly old fox for sure. I fell hook, line, and sinker for some of the lies. There are two in this book that hit me especially hard in my heart:
- You’re Capable; You Can Do This
I so Can Not do this! This parenting gig is hard and I am now, with eyes wide open, finally seeing this and leaning on God way, Way, WAY more.
Oftentimes I am overwhelmed and think, I am not cut out for this parenting thing. Then I remember parts of what I have read and the truth is this, God gave these children to me, not someone else, therefore He must think I can do this…call on Him more, rely on Him more, pray more, talk more…More HIM and way, way less of me.
- Why and How You Discipline Don’t Matter – Just Make Them Obey
I remember saying a long time ago, “As long as they are polite and respectful, that’s all I am concerned about”. Let me tell you how well that worked out…{crickets}
I have heard the phrase “heart parenting” but I seriously didn’t really get it until I finished reading the chapter about discipline. I was immediately convicted about my lack of heart parenting and how many times I have disciplined a child for an action instead of seeking out the truth and heart of the matter.
I learned that obedience comes from the heart, the willing heart that wants to please and obey. {Putting myself in my kids shoes…the willing heart that wants to please God} This is what I haven’t been doing for years. I have since been able to readjust my view of issues and try to find out the “heart” issue instead of reacting to the discrepancy issue.
Why this Book Matters
The book is not just a sharing of the Ten Deceptions that Christian (truly all) parents face, it goes much deeper than that.
Parenting Unchained is about showing you the deceptions but also showing you the truth from God’s word proving that the deceptions are just that . . . deceptions.
With each Deception Dr. Dempsey points you straight back to the Bible and shows you just how incredibly loving, just, and grace giving our God truly is. That these lies do not define you as a parent, that the devil simply has created a sticky complex web of lies that ensnare us as parents and try to convince us that they are truths.
I am beyond blessed that I was able to read this book and be able to share it with you. Because now, I feel empowered. I feel stronger. I have Bible verses now that I didn’t have before that show me that the Ultimate Parent, Our Father God has laid out my parenting plan. A well laid out plan, one that is full of blessings and gifts, if I do my utmost to follow it according to His way.
This amazing book is worth it’s weight in gold to me. I feel richer now that I can see how much I have been deceived. I am gladly adding this to my parenting book collection as of right now. As I know that when the deception scales start to form again, I will need to reread and find my way back to the plan and the light.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”