Valerie Hess - Habits of a Childs Heart: Raising Your Kids with the Spiritual Disciplines

VALERIE:

Our lives are never lived in isolation. One persons action can change the whole course of our lives. For that reason, Id like to thank Jean Fuller, who gave my husband, John, Celebration of Discipline years ago. I can still picture the vacation condo living room where John said to me, You might be interested in reading this. His hunches have blessed me for many years now.

I also want to thank the numerous Sunday school class members, workshop participants, and local Renovar groups who have shared with me their stories of learning to be better disciples of Jesus Christ. They have sharpened my thinking on the disciplines with hard questions and public accountability. It is because of their desire to know how to share these truths with their children that this book was conceived.

I thank Reverend Gwen Brown and Kathy Raybin for being my longtime Renovar partners; Barb Steiner, who has processed so much with me; Judy Schulz, who has taught me so much about Christian living in all circumstances; and my children, Maggie Rogers and Lydia Hess, who continue to teach me about unconditional love. There have been numerous church members and staff who have modeled discipleship to me throughout my life. God knows what role each of them has played in my faith formation and will reward them well for it.

I am grateful to Terry Behimer of NavPress for her continued faith in this project and to our wonderful editor, Liz Heaney, who helped us pull all the loose ends together. And finally, I thank Richard and Carolynn Foster for their work and witness. Their shared wisdom and friendship mean more than words can say.

MARTI:

No book is written without support. My support team begins with my husband, Fred, to whom Ive been married for thirty-eight years and counting. You allow me to be who I am, never trying to change me, and instead you unfailingly, unselfishly encourage me in all my personal and professional challenges and gladly take on many burdens so that I may have protected time to work and reflect. I will love you eternally.

Almost everything Ive learned about parentingand life that is truly profound is because I was taught it firsthand throughout the thirty-six-plus years of raising Marc and Kyle, the lights of my life, the two souls etched everlastingly onto my heart. Words cannot express what each of you means to me and how much I owe you for all that you have brought into my life. Because of you, I am the person I am today. I love you fiercely, as perhaps only a mother can.

I am grateful to Lynda Graybeal for bringing Valerie and me together to write this book. It would have been almost impossible to span the miles between Colorado and California without you, Lynda. Thank you for your help. Also, thank you, Tom Zane, for your generosity and computer graphics expertise.

And to our editor, Liz Heaneythis is the second book Ive been blessed to work on with youa resounding thank-you for wisdom, patience, and enduring friendship. The ideas may be ours, but the fact that the book has become what it is owes much to you, Liz. Frankly, I cant even imagine working on another book without your guiding hand resting on my shoulder and providing me with focused inspiration.

I would be remiss if I didnt especially thank Richard Foster for his faith in me throughout the many years Ive known him. We met in the early fall of 1978 when we were both new faculty colleagues; I literally learned the spiritual disciplines directly from you over many years of sharing weekly lunches in our beloved Milton Center group. Because of you, I celebrate always, even in times of great sorrow and fear, of which (as you know) our family has had much. God brought you into my life, and I have never been the same since. Thank you for equal doses of laughter and prayer, Richard. My mind is filled now and ever with memories of your friendship and ministry to me.