Parenting with Grace and Truth: Leading and Loving Your Kids Like Jesus

by Dan Seaborn

How could following Jesus' example change your parenting and your relationship with your kids?

Parenting with Grace and Truth  is a timely book for to parents who desire to live and lead like Jesus. You will be drawn to the "grace and truth" concept because our culture idolizes serving self over others, which makes it incredibly difficult to raise children from a biblical foundation.

In twelve chapters, author Dan Seaborn explores the notion of what parenting would be like if you handled the delicate balance of speaking truth into your children’s lives, while loving your kids with a heart full of grace.  Parenting with Grace and Truth will help parents discover that every aspect of parenting is satisfied through the person and character of Jesus Christ. . .a must-read for parents of all ages!

Genres: Parenting

204 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Connie Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I raised our daughter to respect her elders, to know that our rules and guidelines were given to help her grow into a productive adult and we encouraged her to always love and obey God. We are now helping her as she raises her almost three year old daughter and I am thrilled to be given the chance to read this book. I realize that yes, we did some things right but we also dropped the ball in some areas. Author Dan Seaborn has pointed out that just as we are shown Grace from our Heavenly Father, we should also extend loving grace to our earthly children. Permissive parenting is not good but unrelenting strictness is also not good. I especially appreciate that the author uses God's Word to support his thoughts.

I heartily recommend Parenting with Grace and Truth and I believe that it will serve as a great resource for both new parents and those of us who have done this before!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[CT · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short book on parenting by example and influence. This contains concise advice as far as transitioning into the parenting approach that works better particularly starting with pre-pubescent kids, the stage when authoritative directions and rules, as well as figurative ‘spanking’ is no longer appropriate nor effective.

This book combines principles that my wife and I learned in Growing Kids God’s Way as well as Real Family Values. It talks about defining family values and communicating this clearly to the kids, with parameters for expectations and consequences. There is no defined limit to the grace we should extend to the kids, as long as there is a good conversation afterwards to deal with the heart and the Biblical truth behind the values and boundaries in place. Obviously, love should embrace the whole effort of parenting.

I like it. I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

[Erin]

I’m not giving this one a rating because I didn’t finish it. I came to it with different, higher, expectations of the spiritual influences in raising kids with grace in truth. I was desiring insight into a Biblical balance.

In my opinion, this could be any generic parenting book: all kids are different, establish family values and stick with them... and that’s pretty much it. Trickled throughout were your standard Bible verses that anyone could throw around to fit their opinion.

The sub title was “leading and loving your kids like Jesus.” Three chapters in and there hadn’t been any mentions or comparisons to how Jesus led or loved.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent parenting book-- it wasn't a 'typical parenting book' that tries to sell a certain parenting style to you-- but one from the true source of parenting wisdom, the Word of God. The author lives in my community and I have had the opportunity to hear him speak numerous times, he wrote this book in a similar style to how he speaks-- sharing personal stories and speaking truth-- but I feel he was more vulnerable in this book than when he speaks. I learned a lot and was inspired in my journey as a parent.

[Lisandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book on thinking differently on how to approach your kids with an open heart

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a lot of great wisdom in it. It has some great truths and practical wisdom in being the type of parent most aspire to be. I have two toddlers so some of the book wasn't as appropriate for me at this stage but even the parts of dealing with teenage rebellion were good to read in helping to prepare for those days.

My favorite quote from the book was: "Have faith in yourself as a parent, and put your trust in God to get you to that point and keep you there. God is flawless. He doesn't make mistakes. Your children are the very ones He intended for you to parent." As a special needs Mom this reminder is one I cling to. I have a similar quote from Korie Robertson's book "Strong and Kind" on my fridge. There are were a few similar thoughts in her book as this one and I am glad to see these ideas in both books. These are crucial parenting tips and Christians trying to raise their children need them in this day and age! I highly recommend this book!

I was provided this book by the publisher and was not required to give a positive review. I have stated my personal opinion of this book.

[Debbie Chatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book “Parenting with grace and truth” to parents at all stages. My only child is now an adult and the though running through my head as I read this book was where was this book 20 years ago.

This book is definitely needed in today’s society where too many parents err on side of permissive parenting and try to be their children’s friend not their parent, as a way of revolting against authoritative parenting. However the author points out very clearly that both of these parenting styles have their weaknesses and neither result in mature responsible children. And today we are seeing a shortage of mature responsible young adults. So this book is very timely in that regard.

Instead the author highlights a parenting style using Jesus as our relational model. So think of this book as WWJD as a parent. The focus of this parenting style is a balance between grace and truth - Grace that allows them to make mistakes, to be a kid, while loving them unconditionally; Truth that sets expectations and standards and hold them to those. And the author doesn’t just stop there but lays out principles, backs them up with God’s Word and then shares examples from his life and the life of those who knows to display the application.

The one thing I really liked about this book was the intentionality that the author focuses on. In other words, we should not just stumble through the years and figure out this think called parenting. Instead, we are called to be good stewards in our role as parents and as such need to determine what values we most want to instill in our children and then once we know those values, it sets the tone for everything else. As I read this book I could see areas where my husband and I had done this well in raising our daughter and other areas where we didn’t do so well.

Also, I liked that the author doesn’t just set the tone for what we should do, but includes chapters on how to deal with crisis or when things don’t go as we planned, on dealing with the unexpected. Moreover, this is a chapter on dealing with blended families. The chapter that broke my heart was the one on roles of dads and moms and the statistics for kids growing up without dads.

Bottom line – get a copy of this book and prepare to be soak up the wisdom shared by this dad. Allow God to speak to your heart through this author. And pick up very practical down to earth tips for starting now to raise children who will grow up to be responsible mature young adults.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a tremendous amount of books on parenting, and many claim to be different and unique, with new approaches and techniques that will "finally overcome" this or that problem in the world of the parent/child relationship. While Dan Seaborn's book, Parenting with Grace and Truth does not make any of these claims, it may very well be the different and "unique" approach parents need in our current culture. This parenting book explores the challenges and problems of parenting and simply holds them up to the example of Jesus Christ - the most graceful, truthful, and loving example we will ever find for teaching, leading, correcting, and developing one another, including our children.

Seaborn incorporates Scripture throughout his book as the blueprint for developing his suggestions and guidelines for handling tough issues. He also incorporates a few interesting and helpful quotes from notable people including Benjamin Spock, Martin Luther King Jr., and Abigail Van Buren, to name a few. Also helpful are Dan's "Questions to Consider" where he brings each chapter's lesson right down to the reader's current experiences, challenging the reader to apply what was discussed in the chapter to their own personal situations. What I enjoyed the most, and frankly made me more vested in the author's guidance, was the "Dan's Reality Check" sections. These "Reality Checks" acknowledge that every situation is unique, and that the advice given in the chapter may not apply perfectly to each situation, and also provides additional suggestions for adapting in these outlying areas.

It's no wonder that the book has such a realistic tone to it - the author is the Director of the Marriage and Family Network for the American Association of Christian Counselors. Plus, he and his wife have four children, so he speaks from experience! Physically, the book itself is nothing glamorous, just simple guidance that is grounded in the Bible, specifically, the actions and words of Jesus Christ. I recommend this book to all parents, in all stages and circumstances of parenting.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Katrina Epperson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book for parents of any age child to help lead and guide in their growing years. Parenting is one of the hardest job a person will encounter simply because your actions as well as others can and will have a tremendous influence over a child. It would be so much easier if babies came with manuals, but also they don't.

I found this to be a helpful book and wish it had been out years ago.

This book is divided into 8 short chapters and at the end of each chapter you will find a list of questions to consider. Some may consider these hard or deep questions, but they help you to reflect on what you have just read. It may be easy to use a journal and write out your answers if that helps keeping you on tract. Then he give you practical ideas to implement in your life which honestly are not difficult.

In the first chapter he discusses how to develop good character in your children and how reminds us that children develop character by emulating others behavior and by responding to how we encourage their behavior. He also reminds us that character is not just about behavior, but also how they respond in situations. I felt this was an important chapter and reread it, studied it and made notes about ways to implement his advise. The next chapter I found the same, in fact each chapter I read I found something very important about and went back and studied it more closely. My journal was full by the end of this book.

In the very back of the book is a scripture index and also a place for notes.

I found this a helpful book and would recommend it to anyone.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Christians are called to emulate Christ character.”

That is how the book by Dan Seaborn titled parenting with Grace and Truth begins. It is the heart of the information provided in this book. Seaborn goes through eight different truths about parenting when it comes to leading and loving like Jesus.

I really appreciate the candor in which Seaborn presents his information. He recognizes that imperfect people cannot create perfect children. Rather he gives guidelines by which parents can raise children to be Christ-like themselves.

One of the chapters that I found very beneficial is about discovering your children's unique talents and abilities. This chapter discusses how to recognize talents and abilities in children. It also alerts parents that they do not lock their children into a certain function simply because they are talented in that area.

Another chapter deals with blended families. I really received insight from this chapter. I do not see a lot of parenting material on blended families and that is a shame. Seaborn has done well to bring up certain circumstances in which blended families may run into and how to deal with them.

Throughout the book, Seaborn makes it clear that it is time for parents to lead like Jesus led and includes parenting responsibilities. He brings out that parenting can be enjoyable and rewarding. Therefore, I recommend that parents pick up a copy of this book and read it together discussing what is being taught and how to implement the information into their parenting.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review..

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly wish this book had been available when my husband and I were raising our son. This is a great book full of wisdom and encouragement. Knowing when to say "yes" to our children's wishes and when to say "no" for their own good can involve learning hard lessons. While each situation is a growing experience, if we base our reaction on the way God intends us to raise our children, we will be able to help our children grow and flourish. Practical tips filled with the love of God help us all know how to react to emotions of children and adults.
This is a great book to give to new parents as well as not so new parents. I encourage everyone to read this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Christian parents we strive to show Christ to our children. The author has taken scripture, the life of Christ, and his experience to write how parents can raise their children with with the delicate balance of truth and love. Each chapter ends with discussion questions.

I'll admit that based on the cover, I was expecting something dry. But I was pleasantly surprised. The author blended his thoughts with stories and antidotes that helped bring the points home. The message is easy to understand and put into practice. The questions at the end would make this a great book for group discussion, but would definitely be good for parents to use themselves.

I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing. All thoughts expressed are my own.