“What are two important character traits that you want to see in your children?”
Could you think of two off the top of your head?
Since reading those words, I’ve been thinking over and over if I could pick just two. Two character traits. Honesty? Generosity? Kindness? Thankfulness? And the list goes on and on.
When Korie Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame was asked this when her children were young, she admits that she had never given it a lot of thought.
And I’m with Korie. Clearly I haven’t pinpointed two. My kids are little, so we’re working on potty training, not changing our clothes 10x a day, and not trying to carry the new baby all over the house.
If I had to choose two, could I?
Well, Korie did, in that moment. And she said what popped into her mind. “Strong and Kind.”
Strong and Kind, the answer she gave that day at Bible study, have recently become the title of her book. This book has many Duck Dynasty family glimpses in it.
But better than Korie telling about she talked about sex with Sadie, or Willie reflecting on his own childhood with Phil and Miss Kay, was what Korie intertwined into every page:
a challenge to be intentional in our parenting.
And I love the idea of intentional parenting. To be intentional in how we are shaping, encouraging, directing of kidlets as they grow.
Strong and Kind is almost like an accidental parenting book. It’s not a how-to guide. It’s not a formula.
It’s the story of a willing Christ-follower who has the opportunity to share what has worked with her children and in her family.
I can totally see that people will pick this book up because they love Duck Dynasty and love supporting the family. I can see that people would pick this book up because the title is direct and I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t agree that ‘strong’ and ‘kind’ are good things.
And I will admit, I definitely didn’t pick this book up for the review thinking it would challenge me as a mom.
But it so did!!
I’m working through my own thoughts on what I would choose as my own two words. I’m looking at a mom who was intentional and thinking how I could do that in Leah-fashion with my own kids.
If you had to choose two words right now, what would they be? Or are you like me, really struggling to think of just two?
My 2 would be humble and Christ-Centered. I am going to need to get this book… Thanks for the review!