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Growing Toward God: Life Lessons Inspired by the Wonderful Words of Kids

Doreen Wright Blomstrand & Barbara J. Koshar
Kregel Publications (2008)
ISBN 9780825441868
Reviewed by Antoinetta Castaldo for RebeccasReads (4/09)


Was it not Art Linkletter who said, "Children say the darnest things"?  Recall the Emperor and his new clothes; only the children were able to set him straight about those fancy duds.  It is children, in their youth, innocence, and genuineness, who are often the sources of inspiration, vexation, and yes, even awe.  We marvel at their capacity to believe, imagine, ask, and accept.  How else do we get away with the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and Santa Claus?  Children are the slate of our own childhood dreams and wishes.  Through them, there find our hope.

In their book, "Growing Toward God,"  Doreen Blomstrand and Barbara Koshar remind us of our children's reservoir of hope and truth.  Readers of all ages will find between its pages short stories that demonstrate how children are the most perfect examples of true believers.  The introduction begins with Mark 10:14.  "Let the little children come to me.....for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."  The authors briefly describe their reasons for writing the book, and from there we are lead to fifty short anecdotes starring children who have helped others on their spiritual growth toward God.  At the end of each anecdote, the authors offer a prayer based on the anecdote.  Almost instinctively, you will read the prayer, meditate upon it, and see its value in your own life.  You eagerly look forward to the next anecdote to bring a smile back to your face.  You will read about 2 1/2 year old Taylor, whose grandfather just passed away. There is four-year-old Drew, who remarks about a beautiful lawn of dandelions.  You will even meet three-year-old Ellis who wonders why no matter where flies are, inside or outside, people are always trying to kill them.  Adults can never see the world in the same way.

It is children whose thought-provoking comments and naïveté bring us hand in hand with our Creator.  Psalm 127:3 says, "Children are a gift from the Lord."  Doreen Wright Blomstrand and Barbara J. Koshar make us wonder if it is even possible to grow toward God without them.


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