Sally Clarkson - Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Childs Heart to the Beauty of Learning

L ong before you held this book in your hands, God was writing this story on the heart of a mother. Like you, she longed to raise her children to do more than simply survive this world we are living in; she wanted them to thrive . Her hope and prayer: that each child would grow into someone who would bring light, goodness, and beauty to the world.

And thats exactly what happened.

You and I know the mother of those four children as Sally Clarkson, the beloved mentor to countless moms around the world. And now, in these pages, Sally is sharing the core philosophies that led her on the adventure of motherhood.

This is Sallys story, written in its most complete form yet. You are in for a treat.

When Sally came to us with the idea for Awaking Wonder , we at Bethany House Publishers offered our enthusiastic yes! We recognized the importance of this particular book for this particular time. In this fast-paced world, parents feel as if they are losing ground. Many are losing confidence. We hear from parents who want to raise children with healthy minds and a vibrant faith before launching them into the world. But they feel like theyre doing it all wrong.

Along comes Sally to encourage and guide. She reminds us that, as parents, we cannot depend on someone else to shape the destiny of our children. The responsibility is ours, given to us by God. Faith, knowledge, wisdom, and moral virtue must be taught, upheld, treasured, and embraced for a lifetime. It is our service to God to be stewards of our childrens lives, Sally writes.

But Sally also reminds us that we dont do this alone. God has equipped us for the task before us, and He walks with us each step of the way.

Sallys philosophy of educatingcentered around a wonder-filled lifeawakened something in me as I edited these pages.

You see, long before I was an editor, God was writing a story in me, too. I am a mom to two girls. From my early days of motherhood, I began to pray, Lord, help me awaken the potential in these children. Guide me as I raise them to love you and serve you in a world that is ever changing.

As a trusted mentor, Sally has been an answer to that prayer.

The principles and philosophies in this book are tested and timeless. They will help each of us as we guide our children toward rich intellectual and spiritual growth.

Awaking Wonder is destined to become a classic as we raise up the next generation. My prayer is that this book will change the way you see the world, your child, and yourself as the chief steward of your childrens lives.

When I finished reading the last page of this book, I wrote these words to Sally: It was more of a privilege than a job to read Awaking Wonder , and I was thrilled that I got to be one of its first readers. You are a fine writer and thinker, with a heart so full of the love of Jesus that it spills onto every page.

Now, my friend, its your turn. Awaken to the wonder.

Jennifer Dukes Lee
Nonfiction acquisitions editor,
Bethany House Publishers