Once there was a boy. Orphaned at an early age, then adopted by his uncle and aunt who lived on a modest little farm in the Palancar Valley, his was an ordinary life. Like the nearby village children he spent much of his time outdoors helping on the farm, tending the garden, or helping with the animals. In his mid teens though, life changed unexpectedly and very dramatically for young Eragon. Chosen and called to become a warrior for his people, his initial response was retreat. He wasn’t worthy. After all, he had no parents, no lineage in the ruling class, no name of his own. Who would follow him? But the call was unmistakable. Branded on the palm of his hand was the insignia and it wouldn’t wash off. Eragon’s journey through four excellent novels by Christopher Paolini is a multi-layered story of growing up; both for this not yet grown boy and those who parented him along the way. Woven throughout the series is a supporting theme on the power of names. When parents welcome their firstborn into the world, one of their biggest decisions is ‘what shall we name him or her?’ Naming is a God-like power given to us. God Himself named everything He made until day six when He then bestowed that authority on Adam who in turn named all the animals and also Eve. Naming is the beginning of a relationship, the calling of one person to another. And so Adam shepherded the animals by name and he christened the one of a kind woman with the name Eve. Naming a child is not a trivial matter. Parents usually think long and hard and pray much about their little one knowing the name they give will be theirs for life. So as we begin this four-part series on parenting, it only makes sense to say that parenting your child starts with a relationship and the blessing of names. (The four posts this month are previews of our new book,
How to Build a Relationship with Your Child
How to Build a Relationship with Your Child
How to Build a Relationship with Your Child
Once there was a boy. Orphaned at an early age, then adopted by his uncle and aunt who lived on a modest little farm in the Palancar Valley, his was an ordinary life. Like the nearby village children he spent much of his time outdoors helping on the farm, tending the garden, or helping with the animals. In his mid teens though, life changed unexpectedly and very dramatically for young Eragon. Chosen and called to become a warrior for his people, his initial response was retreat. He wasn’t worthy. After all, he had no parents, no lineage in the ruling class, no name of his own. Who would follow him? But the call was unmistakable. Branded on the palm of his hand was the insignia and it wouldn’t wash off. Eragon’s journey through four excellent novels by Christopher Paolini is a multi-layered story of growing up; both for this not yet grown boy and those who parented him along the way. Woven throughout the series is a supporting theme on the power of names. When parents welcome their firstborn into the world, one of their biggest decisions is ‘what shall we name him or her?’ Naming is a God-like power given to us. God Himself named everything He made until day six when He then bestowed that authority on Adam who in turn named all the animals and also Eve. Naming is the beginning of a relationship, the calling of one person to another. And so Adam shepherded the animals by name and he christened the one of a kind woman with the name Eve. Naming a child is not a trivial matter. Parents usually think long and hard and pray much about their little one knowing the name they give will be theirs for life. So as we begin this four-part series on parenting, it only makes sense to say that parenting your child starts with a relationship and the blessing of names. (The four posts this month are previews of our new book,