In summary I recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to develop a Christian ethos and framework for their house (whether they are single or raising a family). It has a contrasting perspective on numerous little traits that are central to our day to day and year to year living. It delivers a personal heartfelt insight into some of the Piper family traditions and their motives; it provided me with an example of a patterned lifestyle that centres Christ in cherished ways, and does it addressing a wide variety of life's facets.
"Remember when we asked questions, and somehow the answer always came back to God?"
Things like that don't just happen. The come first from our own hearts that are tuned in to God. Then they happen because we plan to include our children in the God-air we breath. Without planning we'll practice our Bible memory just once or twice and then no more. We'll do lots of good things, but only a couple of times. One of the great strengths of good tradition in our lives is the repetition - no something done once, then something else, then another thing altogether, but good things done regularly, dependably, until they become habits.
From their births, I have always wanted my children to know as much about God as they were able to grasp at whatever age they were. And I have wanted my life and our family to be a picture of God to others - that we be the body of Christ who presents an image of Christ to the people around us.
I realise now how difficult that must have been for my parents. Often they must have felt like hypocrites, going through the motions when they didn't feel like worshipping or praying together. Of course, it would have been ideal if they come before God with whole and happy hearts. But it was better to come somehow than not at all.
This brings up the need to train young children to sit through church services. I started easing mine into the habit when they were about three. That meant sitting on the end of an out-of-the-way pew so we could slip out if we needed to. We knew that the best way for a child to learn how to worship is to see Mom and Dad worshipping. We wanted our children to be part of the whole congregation as soon as they could manage it. Yes, it's different for different children. And, yes, Mom's and Dad's worship is pretty distracted for a while. But that's what parents do: We life less-than-ideal (by some standards) life for a few years so we can bring our children up to be adults with us.
The living water in our own hearts is the fountain from which we shower Christ on our family.
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