Book Club Blog Hop: Week 1

For as long as I can remember I have listed reading as a hobby of mine.  And while that has always been mostly true, I've grown to enjoy reading so much more over the past few years. I've read books that encourage and inspire.  Books that challenge me, make me think and have a refining affect on me. Books that make me laugh, cry....you get the point.  That's why I am joining 8 other bloggers for a summer book club blog hop during the month of June.  Sounds fun doesn't it?  

This month I wanted to take the opportunity to review books that I've recommended many times over to friends of mine.  When people find out that I am willing to talk about the sometimes taboo or difficult topic of intimacy in marriage one of the first things they will ask me is about how to talk to kids about such an important topic.  How young is too young? When should they begin talking about the subject?

My opinion: it's never too young to share with children how much God loves them and has a plan for every area of their lives. The book I am writing about today is, I believe, an incredibly age appropriate book about purity.

The Princess and the Kiss by Jennie Bishop follows a young princess as she makes the decision about the kiss God gave her at birth.  Will she find a prince who is worthy of such a precious gift? After all, it is hers to keep or to give away. 

My favorite part of the book is when the princess becomes overwhelmed with the enormity of her choice.  Feeling distraught and discouraged she confesses to her mother that she is not sure if she will ever find a man special enough to give away her kiss. Her mother comforts her and tells her she believes God will bring her a husband and that if He doesn't she is free to treasure her kiss forever.  "The princess took comfort in that thought, for she knew that God could be trusted, and she cherished the kiss with all that she was." (emphasis mine)

That's what I want my kids to know, God can be trusted.  He can be trusted to help them through all their emotions and feelings. Raging hormones are not a surprise or a curse.  God created them and knows them intimately, and He does desire what is best for them regarding purity.  In today's society, sexual purity goes against the norm, it's completely counter cultural. That's why I believe it's important to talk about and teach from a biblical standpoint what God says is best in this area. 

Seeing how I have girls, I've never read the boy counterpart for this book. (The Squire and the Scroll) If any of you have read it, feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you thought.  That's all I have for you this week. If your kids are older than storybook age, consider following the next few Wednesdays as I review a few other books that may provide more age appropriate information for your kids. And don't forget to check out these other ladies blogs for some ideas for good reads.

Blessings!

Clockwise, from top center:

Lorrie @ Life and Lessons Learned, Audrey @ Everything Beautiful, Tracey @ Building My House, Jessica @ Redeeming the Home, Charli @ WV Urban Hippies, Selena at Campbell Clan, Kathleen @ Positive Adoption, and Maria @ The Joyfully Frugal Home 

Not pictured: Megan @ Parenting Beyond