In the Midst of Chaos: Caring for Children as Spiritual Practice

by Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore

How the daily practices of life with children can shape our faith In the Midst of Chaos explores parenting as spiritual practice, building on Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore's fresh conceptions of children from her book Let the Children Come . She questions conventional perceptions that spiritual practices require silence, solitude, and uninterrupted prayer and that assume a life unburdened by care of others. She is both honest about the difficulties and attentive to the blessings present in everyday life and demonstrates that the life of faith encompasses children and the adults who care for them. Miller-McLemore explores how parents might use seven daily practices, such as play, reading, chores, and saying goodbye or goodnight as rich opportunities to shape both parent and child morally and spiritually. Through these experiences, she shows how the very care of children forms and reforms the faith of adults themselves, contrary to the belief that adults must form children. In the Midst of Chaos also goes beyond the typical focus on individual self-fulfillment by tackling difficult questions of social justice and mutuality in the ways families live together. Readers will find in this book an invitation to love those around them in the midst of life's craziness and to live more deeply in grace.

Genres: Theology, Parenting, Childrens

242 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

Author, co-author, and editor of over sixteen books as well as over a hundred chapters and articles, Miller-McLemore has a particular interest in the person and lived theology in the midst of everyday struggles, such as illness, dying, working, and parenting. Her writing has been translated into several languages, including Korean, Portuguese, and Swedish.

A nationally and internationally recognized leader in pastoral and practical theologies and in women and childhood studies, she has served as president of the International Academy of Practical Theology, president of the Association of Practical Theology, and co-chair of two newly founded program units of the American Academy of Religion, the Consultation on Childhood Studies and Religion and the Group on Practical Theology.

Reviews

[Mark Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful work of practical theology for parents. Worth reading.

I found the first five chapters particularly helpful.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a few chapters before I truly bought in to the author's message. Once she moved on from theory to how her family practiced some of their spiritual beliefs in everyday life, I was more engaged. I especially loved the last few chapters where she talks about the on-going mourning/blessing of parenting - the awareness of life's fleeting nature coupled with the blessing and joy of life's precious and mundane moments. This book is a great read for the contemplative, socially minded, environmentally engaged parent who desires encouragement in the spiritual nature of each of these realms.

[Heather Ostendorff · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some parts of this book were drawn out and hard to read, the overall lesson and message of the book made it well worth reading.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! Theology at its best -in the chaos of everyday life.

[Josh Heyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much and wish so much I could give it to my early parenting self and every other first time parent. God is in the chaos, not just waiting for you in silence and solitude.