10 Gifts of Heart: What Your Child Needs to Take to Heart Before Leaving Home

by Sally Clarkson

Every parent wants their child to grow into a gracious and competent adult. Faith, character, manners, initiative, gratitude—these are just a few of the qualities and skills children need to take to heart before they leave home. Yet parents today do not always have a clear vision for how to cultivate those traits. What does it look like for a mother to train her child’s heart to excellence and goodness? In 10 Gifts of Heart, Sally Clarkson shares biblical wisdom and practical insights from over thirty years of motherhood to show the way.



You’ll be motivated and empowered in this friendly and accessible book to accept the challenge to spiritually influence and direct your child’s heart. That kind of heart training is hard work, though, so 10 Gifts of Heart is filled with personal examples, engaging stories, practical suggestions, and heartfelt encouragement for moms in the thick of raising children. It is, at its heart, a book of vision and inspiration for shaping your child’s heart to want to follow and please God.



(Revised and expanded version of 10 Gifts of Wisdom, 2014, Home for Good Books)

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Christian, Faith, Spirituality, Christian Non Fiction

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

From working on college campuses, to sharing the Gospel behind the Iron Curtain as a missionary, traveling around the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia to speak on discipleship, Sally Clarkson has tenaciously sought after God's kingdom, and has used her ministry to encourage others to do the same. From her best-selling books such as Own Your Life, Desperate (with Sarah Mae), and her latest, The Lifegiving Home, Sally has shared from her heart and home about the value of motherhood and the potential for home to cultivate life, love, and faith. In 1995, She and her husband Clay founded Whole Heart Ministries, which has encouraged thousands of families around the world in discipling their children

Reviews

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an avid reader of Sally's books, I'd call this one a "lite" attempt. Her books are usually deep and thoughtful, but this one doesn't have the same gravity as her others. However, it could be a great read for someone who is new to Sally and not looking for an in-depth book!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read each year to keep these items fresh in your mind, keep you on track, and encourage you to keep instilling into your kids all that God has entrusted to you..krb 7/7/16

[Shannon Woodhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, full of parenting encouragement! I wish I had read this when my now teenage daughter was much younger but I still found quite a few takeaways for her current age!

[Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a favorite of mine from Sally. One I will keep on my shelf to re-read!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 Gifts of Heart gives a guideline on important qualities for raising children: faith, friendship, character, manners, service, work, initiative, hospitality, patience and gratitude. There is also a bonus chapter written by her daughter, Sarah Clarkson, on the "giving the gift of reading", and on the importance of of children reading good books:

"The act of reading and the cultivation of imagination will equip your child with the vocabulary, the vision, and the inner world necessary for them to think and lead independently within their world. Great stories will shape the great story you want your children to live."

Overall, this book is full of practical yet heartfelt encouragement for raising young people.

[Cynthia Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have become a Sally Clarkson, super fan! Yes, she may seem a bit cheesy and whimsical, but that’s what I love about her books. This book had so much gold that you could almost honestly become overwhelmed. But I read this book slowly. One chapter at a time. And made sure to take notes of what stuck out and what I wanted to implement. I don’t need to read books about how life with kids is messy and not beautiful. I need books that can show me realistically how to care for your home and your family and value all that God has created. And Sally did just that in his book!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content of this book is great. At this point, I’ve been listening to Sally’s podcast for five years and have read so many of her and Clay’s books, so m starting to feel like I’ve heard it before. Even so, reading this all at once felt overwhelming; I should’ve read one chapter a month or perhaps weekly. I’d also like to see what a new publisher could do with the interior design; this sounds petty but I felt the margins, font size, line spacing, etc. didn’t lend itself to an enjoyable reading experience.

[Kelly Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have read any of Sally Clarkson's books before, there is not really anything new in this book. It is a lot of the same content, just organized in a different way. If you haven't read any of her books, this is probably most helpful for moms of littles (lower middle school and younger). My favorite book by Sally Clarkson is Season's of a Mother's Heart. I try to read it at least once every other year!

[Elizabeth Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good tool to guide you in motherhood.
I find it hard to take all of Sally's points to heart because her kids were kids so long ago, in a time when life was a bit simpler.
However, many of the concepts, when kept simple, can be useful tools to raising kids with a God based background.

[Christopher D Hammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What gifts are you giving your children?

This book helps parents narrow their focus in on the things that really deserve our energy and investment. The parenting season is short. Live intentionally and gift your precious children with the things listed in this book.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Sally Clarkson's books. At this point, I don't really feel like I'm getting much new content; however, I need the reminders to seek beauty and truth every time I pick up one of her books. So I will continue reading and re-reading.

[Alexis Stirmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Clarkson is one of my favorite authors. In every book I read of hers, I'm left feeling encouraged, hope for the future of my children, and inspired to do great and beautiful things in and for my family.
This book is no different. Definitely a book I will be revisiting often❤️📚

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging, practical, and helpful. I always enjoy her writing.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ideas on how to develop kids into mature adults who love the Lord.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any of Sally Clarkson books are a must read for me!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will now be on my list of highly recommended reads for parents. Or self.

I love Sally Clarkson's warm and honest style. She encourages mothers and families and is strong on principles where she will not give in.

I appreciate a writer and a mother who knows where she stands, why and discusses it while encouraging others to pursue what they stand for and to discover *why*.

There were so many quotable pages here, tips for weary moms and encouragement everywhere. One of my favorite sections was a chapter at the end where her adult daughter, Sarah, wrote about the story-crafted life. She discussed the effects books have and how they can be a parent's ally in the raising of their children.

The book was relatively short and was written in welcoming, readable chapters which I could finish in one sitting.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed and learned so much from every one of Sally Clarkson's books. A few quotes I liked best, "provide them (our children) with a vision for becoming compelling leaders in their generation."

"As a mother, you have the opportunity to form your home and family life in such a way that God's reality comes alive to your children each day."

"I quickly realized that what I was doing as a mom was just what Jesus did with his disciples. Day after day he taught, modeled, and trained them in what it meant to love and honor God."

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally Clarkson and I are both Christian mothers and even though there are many differences in our specific religions/worship, I love what she has to say about motherhood. I've read MANY parenting books. This one (like her others) focuses on what it's really all about: raising our children (and us!) to become true disciples of Jesus Christ. I wish she provided more specific examples of how she implemented each of the "gifts" in her children's lives, but there are enough useful tips to get the wheels in my head turning.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always loved everything written by Sally Clarkson and this book is no exception. My all time favorite author on anything motherhood, and she's true and dear in real life too! Short and sweet and yet full of life giving wisdom for parents. This is a short read that I will come to again and again for all it's practical ideas, and help in refocusing on cultivating the lasting fruit in our children's lives. Highly recommend!

[Amanda Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more of a practical guide compared to Sally's other books. For some reason, I didn't like it as much. It felt too formulaic. Her stories and love for Jesus are what draw me to her writing and I guess a list of 10 things just cuts out a lot of the heart. Helpful stuff, but I think her other books are better.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If your children are young or you haven't read many of her other books it was a gentle reminder of how to instill good practices.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I highlighted a LOT in this book and will be coming back to it as my son gets older to keep me on track for things I want to make priority in raising the next generation.