GROW IN GRACE.
By Adrian A. Paradis'34 and Grace D. Paradis. New York: Abingdon Press, 1958. 128pp. $2.00.
This little book contains ninety-three daily devotions written for family worship. They are arranged in five sections: God's Wonderful World, Home and Family, Character Building, Special Days, Great Christians. The index is helpful in locating a devotion on a particular topic such as "lightning," "boasting," etc.
One of the most useful sections of the book gives a grace for mealtimes for parents and children for each month of the year.
These devotions were written to be used in the Paradis home with their own three children. They are published in a form which would be usable for regular daily devotions by a family with children in the six to twelve age group.
To quote from the introduction, "The purpose of the book is to provide a guide for daily family worship which will help to mold Christian character traits and attitudes, and make life happier by calling attention to some of the beauties and wonders of God's world. ... It is assumed that the users of Grow inGrace are church and church-school attendants and that, firm in their beliefs, they are seeking to give religion some place in their family's daily life.
"Each devotion starts with a Bible reference which establishes the authority for the subsequent material and discussion. Following the Bible reference is material to be read aloud. This serves not only to elaborate on the Bible reading,... but also to point up the theme or moral which is stressed. Every service closes with a short prayer which may be read by the parent or one of the children. ... When you use one of the character-building ... services, you may want to make sure that the child for whose benefit you choose this particular topic thoroughly understands how he can correct his fault or bad behavior."
The emphasis of the majority of the reading seems to be on character education for the children.
This reviewer questions the advisability of a regularly moralistic use of the family worship time. However, use of these readings may lead other families to compose their own services, which would perhaps be the most benefit of all.
