Raising a Princess

Princesses.  The name alone evokes visions of lace and tiaras and the cue of magical Disney music.  Trust me, I know, I have TWO princesses in my home.  So, when I saw the book title, Raising a Princess, written by former football star John Croyle, I knew I had to read it.  Surely it would give me insight into the two princesses in my life! ;)

John Crolye might be known to you from his successful college football career at the University of Alabama years ago.  More importantly though, he is known as dad to many children as the founder of Big Oak Ranch, a place that abused and neglected children have called home since 1974.   If you have never seen their ministry, I encourage you to check it out!  It is there he is mentoring young men and women, helping them grow in the love of Christ and encouraging them to become the people that God would have them to be.
For girls- to become a PRINCESS of the most high king!

P- Praiseworthiness- A princess understands she is worthy of praise simply because she is made in the image of God
R-Righteousness- She lives according to God's normal, not the world's normal
I- Initiative- A princess makes good things happen
N- Nurture- God built in girls and women an instinct to nurture that boys and men simply don't have in the same way
C- Character- A girl of character knows what her deepest desires are and chooses accordingly
E- Encouragement- Your princess need to understand life isn't just something that happens to her.  She has the power to choose
S- Servant- Heartedness A princess finds purpose not only in being served, but serving others
S-Stability- As stability is provided to daughters, they will grow into the kind of people who help create stability for others

By using the Proverbs 31 woman as the standard, John uses the 8 essential virtues above to help teach and direct the young girls in his care.  He has seen it grow them, challenge them, and prepare them for their future, and he encourages you as a parent to do the same.

My thoughts- I like this book!  All 198 pages are filled with straight talk, inspirational stories and sound advice for parents of girls.  While each chapter, there is one for each virtue, has a practical helps and suggestions part to it, this is not a how-to book.  It is a book to help inspire you and get you to think outside the box when parenting.  I think my husband and I are pretty decent parents.  I also think there is always so much more we can do and more we can learn.  But self help books and parenting manuals are not the places we look anymore for wisdom.  We do not need to.  God has provided all the wisdom we need in the Bible and John Crolye continually points back to God's word in all he says.  It is refreshing and it is convicting.

Do I love my daughters with unconditional love?
Do I teach them that righteousness is about the heart, not about just obeying the rules?
Do I help them develop specific skills that are related to their passions and interests?
Do I give them opportunities to care for others without becoming doormats?
Am I walking beside them and teaching them about character?
Do I give them confidence while showing them their limits as well?
Am I providing a home where they can grow and thrive?
Do I tell them I love them, that I will never lie to them, that I will stick with them until they are grown and that there are boundaries we do not cross?

I suspect our roles a parents do not end until the day we reach Heaven's gates, but until then it is our God given job to be the best parents we can be, teaching our kids about God and pointing them towards His goodness, love and sovereignty.

We need to teach them to be PRINCESSES!
You can order a copy of Raising a Princess for $20.00 which includes shipping and handling.  Group discounts are available.

My readers also have been given the opportunity to win a copy of Raising a Princess.  Just leave me a comment about the princesses in your life, and a winner will be randomly chosen next Friday!

Blessings,

"A hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of house we lived in, the kind of car we drove or how much money we had in the bank,” says Croyle, author of The Two Minute Drill to Manhood, which looks at what it means to raise godly young men. “But the world may be different because you and I were important in the life of a child."