The Simply Book Shelf :: Ruth and Troy Simons' Foundations

Ruth and Troy Simons wrote Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family from voices of authority and vulnerability. This isn’t a book that will make you feel worse about all the things you aren’t doing as a parent, it feels more like a friend cheering you on from a neighboring trench. The wisdom that is found in the introduction to this book alone is worth diving head first into it.

“It takes time’ doesn’t necessarily mean that change comes slowly (though it may!) — it means that things that matter require a sacrifice of time. Time that you sometimes can’t find. Time that seems to flip away. Time that’s occupied by the must-dos of life. But if your life is like mine, you can’t afford not to make time to be in the Word. Deep relationships, maturity, growth, a disciplined life… these things do not just happen. The reality is that we demonstrate what is important to us by what we make time for.”

“Sometimes we parents want a formula—a magic prescription that will ensure well-behaved, happy kids and a God-honoring home. But there are no formulas or prescriptions that ensure such things. There’s only a call to know God and be transformed by Him.”

Foundations can be used as a family devotional experience or an individual one. I’m so grateful for their encouragement, for the grace to admit that they too are work in progress, and for their wisdom and insight for how to press deeper into knowing the Lord. That is our greatest call and the greatest gift we can give to our children and anyone else we encounter in this life. I cannot suggest this book highly enough!

PS: Ruth is one of my favorite follows on Instagram. Especially her #preachingtomyownheart series. Give her a follow!