Purposeful and Persistent Parenting: Blessing Others, Blue-Tape Boundaries, and Other Practical Perspectives on Raising Children

Paperback
5.5" x 8.5"
272 pages

Also available on Amazon Kindle.

Thorough and honest book review by Tim Challies.

Blog post "Faithfulness, Not Results, in Parenting" by John & Cindy Raquet.

Description

Sometimes in our childhood we fantasize about out future parenting skills and how we will be the ultimate mom or dad. These grand visions rarely survive the first few months of our own journey as parents–once that specter of self-will first manifests in our new bundle of joy. We quickly learn that while parenting is infinitely rewarding and a wonderful blessing. It is also a difficult, sometimes confusing, often thankless responsibility. We find ourselves wishing for a clear, simple, and preferably illustrated instruction manual.

In Purposeful and Persistent Parenting, John and Cindy Raquet seek to share through encouraging examples of their journey toward God-honoring parenthood, the lessons they learned in raising their eight children. With personal stories of triumph and failure, goal-setting (and resetting), many practical tips, and a little blue tape, they hope that his work will be a valuable companion on your own adventure in parenting and instrumental in helping you to truly enjoy the work of raising your children.

Banner of Truth Magazine Review (by Jeremy Walker)

Of the making of parenting books for Christians there is no end. It often seems as if the production line runs in cycles, with a slightly different emphasis every few years, sometimes reacting to the last emphasis, sometimes reflecting wider Christian trends,  sometimes embracing or resisting some wider cultural pressure. For sensitive, concerned, or frazzled parents, that cycle can be exhausting. However, having read much and taught often on this topic, this may become one of my ‘go to’ texts. It is helpful because of its simplicity and straightforwardness. In thirty-one brief chapters, each with some helpful questions at the end, they work through a variety of biblical precepts, principles and patterns, together with other insightful considerations of relevant topics addressed from a biblical perspective. The particular strength of the book is its resounding practicality. Here there are few abstract theories or high-flown flights of theological fancy; here are few absolute rules laid down like the laws of the Medes and Persians, with the implied threat that without them your family will quickly fall apart. What you end up with is the kind of plain primer on parenting that you can put into the hands of Christian parents at any age and stage of life with the confidence that they will find some help and guidance here. Of course, a faithful pastor will still want to encourage and to check that parents are taking these things to heart, but here is a book to do a lot of the talking for you. Not every parent will need to or should follow every particular suggestion, or even agree with them all. The book is firmly situated in America, for a start, which means some cultural nuance. Nevertheless, I would gladly keep a stock of these as a ‘starter for ten’ for any new parents. I only wish it were more readily available outside the US.

Endorsements

Purposeful and Persistent Parenting is a little gem of a book. I get asked to review many good books, but I have not reviewed a book about which I am more enthusiastic than this one. I am enthusiastic about this book because it takes biblical principles of child-rearing and puts the feet of wise application on them. Often, I fear that parents struggling against the tide of our culture react into extremist and foolish applications of perfectly biblical principles. On the other hand, biblical principles of child-rearing do require more than lip service. They require diligent practice in the everyday world. Parenting challenges like whining, proactive parenting, the practical application of the rod, sitting still, mealtimes, and many other issues are discussed in a biblical, reasonable, and practical way. Another thing that commends this book is its tone. I much appreciate the kind and generous way in which John and Cindy have written. It allows parents to apply the insights and practices John and Cindy suggest in a way that fits their own situation. It also recognizes that in matters of practical application there is room for discussion and difference of opinion. I believe this easy-to-read volume will provide a reason for many parents to thank God for the labors of John and Cindy on behalf of their children and grandchildren. 

- Sam Waldron

Pastor, Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Owensboro, KY
President, Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary

Purposeful and Persistent Parenting hits a home run for getting things in order from the start of parenting. Every young parent needs to read this book. It is targeted to the first ten years of parenting, where everything matters most. It will get you going in the right direction. John and Cindy Raquet understand with clarity that laying solid foundations early on is critical. It is full of helpful ideas grounded in the Word of God. I can’t wait to get it into the hands of my grown children raising their families. 

– Scott Brown

Pastor, Hope Baptist Church, Wake Forest, NC
President, Church and Family Life

I have been a pastor for over thirty years and am a father of six children, four of whom are now adults. My personal library contains dozens and dozens of Christian books on the subject of the family. However, when it comes to child-rearing, I do not hesitate to say that Purposeful and Persistent Parenting by John and Cindy Raquet is the best book I have ever had the privilege and blessing to read on this subject. It is written by a couple who have much proven experience and God-given wisdom. It is soundly and faithfully scriptural. It is gospel-centered and gos- pel-suffused. It is hands-on, nitty-gritty practical, giving many helpful suggestions and creative ideas without being legalistic, since the writers are careful to distinguish between counsel and Scripture command. Indeed, it addresses many practical and important aspects of parenting rarely addressed in books on this subject. I cannot highly recommend this book enough! I am in double earnest to promote this book and will be urging all the young families in our church to get it and to read it.

Author Bio

John and Cindy Raquet have been married for thirty years   and have thoroughly enjoyed raising their eight children. The Raquets have lived in New Mexico, Finland, and Canada, and now reside in Dayton, Ohio where John is a pastor/elder of their church.