The book that I just recently finished is It's Better To Build Boys Than Mend Men (a study through Proverbs 22) by S. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A. I was pleasantly surprised to learn so much from this particular book. I just always assumed that business men, no matter what they say or have a reputation to do, always have a tendency to be somewhat worldly and not so reflecting of God's Word. Not sure why I had that opinion, I just did. However, I must say that I was very impressed by just how truly genuine S. Truett Cathy seems to be from reading this book.
He has a true passion for children. He has spent his life training up children in the Lord. Through his intentional efforts to provide love and compassion from the Lord, many children have grown out of broken homes to become strong leaders in their own families and mend a broken family tree.
This book is a great reminder that we, as believers, have a duty to train up more then just our own children. We have an obligation/privilege to impact the world. We can only do this through the love that we have experienced through our own relationship with Christ Jesus.
I am truly excited to begin intentionally reaching out to everyone I meet - young or old, innocent or broken. I pray that God's love, grace, and mercy will pour out of me and my family. Not through our own ambitions, but through the glorification of Christ only.
Again, here are a few excerpts from the book which I have enjoyed. Hope you enjoy them as well.
"Don't be too concerned that your children don't listen to you. But be very concerned that they see everything you do."
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6)
"Be so consistent with your discipline that you're boring."
"Don't consider watching TV with your children to be 'quality time.' You may be in the same room, but you're not together."
"A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it." (Proverbs 22:3)
"It's difficult for an adult to teach common sense to a child; you may be more effective by creating opportunities or responding to opportunities that allow the child to develop common sense."
"Children who have not been taught basic living skills at home will act years younger than their peers. Don't blame children for things they have not been taught."
"I recently read a survey indicating peer pressure had surpassed parents as the strongest influence in the lives of American teenagers. We must do everything in our power, then, to positively influence the influencers."
"we must do more than talk. We must model the good behavior. We must become the "right crowd" - the kind of people we want children to spend time with and be influenced by."
"You can't make a child be humble any more than you can make a child love. But you can teach humility to children by serving others and by giving children opportunities to practice humble service."
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