25 Reviews of Christmas: Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World by Jill Rigby

Here we are, now eight days into the Christmas season, and I decide to spring this one on you. Believe me, in today's economy with today's moral climate, you'll be glad I did!



My husband and I often get into great debates over whether or not our children are spoiled. Funny thing is, we take turns on who picks which side of the debate. Recently, our family made a choice to have Dad leave his secular job and go into pastoring full time.

We did this knowing 1) it meant a huge cut in income unless God intervenes and 2) Christmas is coming. What resulted for me was a chance to live out the message found in "Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World".

Jill shares in chapter two how enough is never enough. Living in the land of plenty, even with the current financial crisis occurring, we see that we still have "enough"...and yet we find ourselves wanting more.

Can you imagine what this is doing to our children?

Jill continues with part two, which I adore: bumping your child off self-center. Basically, if you haven't been teaching them to be self-less, knock them off of their known course of action with a few wise tips found in chapters three through ten.

Some of what you read will startle you, simply because it goes against the grain. If you slow down and really think through the message Jill is delivering, it will resonate within your heart and make you want your children to become healthy, unselfish followers of the One who gave it all.

Part Three continues with this thought: now that we've changed our family, let's go out and change our world. That might seem monumental, but it happens one family at a time. If God has shown you how to change, how might He then use you to show others?

She concludes with a section on parenting with Eternity in view. I think this is where most of us as Christian moms and dads blow it. We forget so easily...this is NOT our home.

Those iPods? Gonna burn. That cool new game system? Burn as well. All those books (yes, I'm talking to me!)...all gonna burn. Only things done for Jesus will last. So we have to ask ourselves, what are WE doing for Him...and what are we teaching our children to do for Him as well.

This is the perfect book for such a time as this. It convicted the socks off of me and then put them right back on. Jill isn't one to condemn and leave you hanging. She offers practical, easy to implement changes. We just need to add courage and put our feet to our faith.

I'm giving "Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World" five out of five bookmarks, with a bookmark as a charm. You can't sit down and read this in one sitting--it's too overwhelming.

Trust me. I've been working my way through it for a month now. And I've got one or two chapters still to go...been skimming so I could get this posted early in December. Don't wait--go get a copy today! It may be the best gift your kids ever received!

Happy Reading!