Angela Ashwin

Finally, a book on spirituality (and especially prayer) written for parents of young children by someone who vividly remembers the honor and exhaustion of having them! You'll find no glossed-over memories here. Ms. Ashwin manages to speak sanity into the spiritual life the tired parent (often the mother, but her insights could just as easily be for fathers), who is desperately seeking God, but finding that the work, worry, and constant chase seem to leave little room for Him. She speaks to the guilt and gritty reality with gentleness and spiritual insight drawn from Holy Scripture, the saints, as well as her own experiences.

I've attended many talks for parents, and not walked away with as much encouragement and starting places for carrying on the fight to keep one's spiritual life alive as this little book provides. It is also short, and its chapters are easily read by exhausted caregivers. She importantly speaks briefly to a few larger subjects such as church attendance with children, and enriching our view of God through the vocation of parenthood, rather than seeing it as a hinderance. This book is highly recommended for those with young children, and this author bears further exploration. She writes from the Anglican tradition, but her insights and recommended practices are useful for those of any Christian tradition.… (meer)