Book Review
The Ryburn Christian Clarion, 420 Ryburn Avenue, Suite C-2, Dayton, Ohio 45405-2552, U.S.A.; (937) 275-3316;
(general) theclarion@godslivingroom.com; (submissions) kejamison.rd@gmail.com; www.godslivingroom.comfrom The Ryburn Christian Clarion, Winter-Spring 2010 Issue
by Rick Heeter
BOOK: Strong Families, Strong People: Practical Tips For Living Well Together
by Cathy Reichel, M.A.It seems that for most of my lifetime, I've heard that the nuclear family is under assault. Well, nowadays, it's truer than ever. You would think that with all the innovations and new means of instant communication that we'd be more in touch with one another, but because of the safety and remoteness that technology offers, people are often closer to faceless individuals in cyberspace than members of their own family, however, there are answers. If we could just eliminate all the extraneous clamor that comes our way daily and distill everything down to what is essential, to what works, we'd really be on to something.
Enter Cathy Reichel's little book on family relationships, and what makes them work. Only 114 pages in length, Strong Families - Strong People: Practical Tips for Living Well Together is unimpressive in size, but packs a wallop with simple, common sense counsel that rests on a true spiritual foundation. Cathy's 28 years of experience in family counseling and over 37 years of Biblical study make for an ideal approach. A compilation of short articles written over a three year period for a weekly, online Christian newsletter (at www.cffm.org), each concise chapter offers practical tips for dads, moms, sons, and daughters, encouraging all family members to slow down, communicate, and DO THINGS TOGETHER.
Nearly on hundred bite-sized chapters are grouped into seven units with headings like "Principles For Success In Strong Families," "Attitudes That Build Strength In Families," "Family Environment," and "Building Spiritual Strength In The Family." Within these units, topics like teaching your children what to want, forgiveness and thankfulness, spirituality versus religion, your family's image, our Christian heritage, being reasonable, prayer and Bible study, and a plethora of other subjects and concerns are all tightly packed into straightforward doses of friendly counsel. A final unit, entitled "Closing Thoughts," contains brief sharings by husband, Dale, and the three kids, Hannah, Jonathan, and Sarah, testifying to family involvement in the production of Mrs. Reichel's book.
What's truly beneficial is that all this advice is not just "head knowledge," nor is it a regurgitation of popular, contemporary social or psychological theory, with a little Bible thrown in to attract the Christians. Rather, it is the result of years of lived experiences in which Cathy, a trained family counselor, along with her husband and their three kids, proved the willingness and ability of God to work within the family unit. As noted in II Peter 1:3, God's Word contains knowledge on everything that pertains to life and godliness, and elements of that knowledge have been captured and nailed to paper in this small volume, highlighted in eminently practical, everyday ways.
Spiritually based, clear, practical solutions to family difficulties are laid out in down-to-earth simplicity. Like the doctors' desk reference, we have, at our fingertips, a handy tool, a handbook of sensible suggestions that work. Naturally, just owning the material and filling a narrow space on your bookshelf is not the point; putting its recommendations into practical application is. As the author observed in the book's introduction, "...genuine, lasting happiness can only come from a sense of strength and success within the person." To that end, this book is offered, and this review written. We invite you to see for yourself that good things do, indeed, come in small packages.