Building Family Ties with Faith, Love, & Laughter, by Dave Stone

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Only 160 pages, this book gets right to the point and is an excellent resource for families. Although the importance of a stable marriage is stressed, the book also addresses single-parent and blended families and how to form a secure home environment in those situations as well. The advice is applicable to parents of small children all the way through older teens, with "good kids" or those in crisis. For a small book, it really runs the gamut.

Not only were the elements of a happy family presented, but also practical ideas of how to achieve them in everyday life. Pretty early in the book, the reader is encouraged to spend time making a simple family mission statement. This forms the backbone of what priorities the family makes over time, and gives a focus to short- and long-term goals. Some of the sections I bookmarked include the difference between serving and being a servant, how to instill family loyalty and cut down on bickering, and the difference between safe humor and causing someone embarrassment.

I would definitely recommend this book for any parent, and it would make an excellent small group or Sunday School study. It is part of the "Faithful Family" series from Thomas Nelson Publishing.

I received this book free from the publisher through netGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.