Like Our Father
How does who God is shape and inform our parenting? In Like Our Father, Christina Fox shows how God parents us and why that matters for our parenting.
Imaging and Adoption
Ch. 1 speaks on imaging God to our children. I was struck by the statement that as parents, we are often the first glimpse for our children to see who God is. Personally, I thought about how I could image God’s patience, love, and faithfulness.
I was moved in Ch. 2 to see that Fox finds adoption to be foundational to our understanding of having God as our father. As God’s children, we have benefits and blessings unlike any other.
Consistency, Rules, and Limits
Consistency is the theme of Ch. 3. Fox challenges us to be consistent in the use of time, in our responses, in our rules and consequences, and expectations, and in rituals and traditions. God gives us grace when we are inconsistent, and we can use such opportunities to point to him.
God sets rules and limits for our good. We must teach our children the truth about God, but it must focus on the heart. This means that we teach about sin and forgiveness in Jesus.
Discipline and Provision
These concepts of sin and forgiveness are displayed as we discipline our children. Training and correction is loving and necessary. One application I would like to try is to talk about the gospel when I correct my children.
I was most interested to see how modeling prayer is important to show how God provides. God is patient with us and he loves us with affection and action.
How God Parents Me
Each chapter ends with questions for discussion, making this book the perfect resource for a small group or class. Not only did it give me ideas to grow and improve in my own parenting, but it showed me the ways God parents me and encourages my heart.
I received a media copy of Like Our Father and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.