It’s not exaggerating to say it was Sally Clarkson who removed a lot of my fear of raising children. I listened to her podcast before I ever got pregnant, and it’s now become a favourite with my two-year-old as well. “Hello Friends” by “Sally Cup” is often requested while driving (At Home with Sally, for those in control of the podcast app). Her words gifted me with courage and the belief that I can use my words to build up my children and help them flourish, even in ways I never received. I was excited when I heard that Sally and Clay Clarkson were publishing a book called ‘Giving Your Words.’

Giving Your Words is a guide which demonstrates how the Giver of the Word enables us to give our words to bring life and wisdom to our children. It shows how the Servant calls us to serve our children and lead them to Him. It raises parents up in the knowledge that we are the best parents for our children, and that the Holy Spirit will enable us to use our unique personalities and words to greater effect than any parenting script or formula. It’s an encouragement to name and call forth the gifts, dreams and passions we see in our children and spur them forward.

Clay and Sally write that while love is a verb, it is also verbal. Love requires action, but for it to be deeply felt it must also be accompanied by the gift of our words and affirmations. Words are powerful, and creating a verbal environment of regular and intentional conversation will help our children flourish as they navigate the world and the life of faith. The Clarksons offer many suggestions and guides for how to use words well to encourage and disciple without resorting to formulas.

“Creating a verbal home begins with following Christ’s example of personal ministry by first choosing to serve your children. The words you give in your personal interactions with them will be effective for Christ only if they come from the heart of a parent who is a servant like Christ – one who with humility of mind regards others, even their own children, as more important than themselves.”

This is my first book by Sally and Clay Clarkson but you better believe I'm deep diving into their backlist!!

Wow! I wanted to work on the words I share with my kids while we homeschool and do life. I saw this title and new it was perfect! I ended up underlining most of the book. The way they write just spoke to my soul!! Instead of feeling discouraged like I'm failing my kids I felt so uplifted by their words. It's so encouraging! I love how they share what they implemented in raising their kids and also the flip side of what their kids appreciated and learned from them. It was entirely inspiring!!

I highly recommend this to every parent! I see this book joining my favorite shelf of rereads!!

Sally's words encourage. She helps you ponder what YOUR words mean to others. Giving my words to our children takes on a whole new light these days after reading this book. I have enjoyed the deeper dive into scripture alongside of Sally's quotes from other authors that nicely compliment her writing. It is a great book to be used for a book club, couples read, or for a Sunday School class. I highly recommend this one to parents, grandparents, and anyone who wants to know more about how your words can shape others.

In a day where texting in abbreviations is the normal way of communicating, we’ve lost touch with the importance of our words. Our words can tear down or build up, they can break the spirit or mend the wounds, they can be fleeting or make an eternal impact. The choice is ours to make. I love how the Clarksons remind us of the importance of our words and Biblically teach us how to change the current climate of our families. This book is both encouraging and thought-provoking. You will not be disappointed!

Giving Your Words by Clay and Sally Clarkson is a beautifully written guide for parents who want the words they use to invest in their child’s lives powerfully. This book is life changing and perfect as a springboard for family devotions. I highly recommend this book! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This book helps you understand the power of your words and the impact they have on your heart and the hearts around you. Learning to be intentional with my words has been a goal and a challenge in raising my kids. This book was a lot to take in but thankful to be given the chance to read it.

This book has spoken to my heart and renewed my resolve to speak life and love to my children and all others the Lord places in my path. It is full of practical examples and spiritual truth.

For an introvert mama, this is such an important reminder to not cease in being intentional to make meaningful conversations with my children. One important message that I gained is not just about giving them God's Word, which is utmost important, but also about letting God's Word flow through my life to speak to my children - letting the Holy Spirit to use me and my life experiences to share with them verbally how our God is so real and loves us so much. It boils down to being a disciple myself, following Jesus closely first and emulating Him.

This book is wonderful! I know I can forget how important it is to use my words wisely, especially when it comes to my children and their tender hearts. This is a wonderful book for parents.

I always love the Clarksons' work but this book is particularly poignant since I read it during the separation preceding divorce from my verbally (and other ways) abusive husband. It helped remind me of good edifying and healing words, and gave some really practical methods for building up that culture in my family as I get to start fresh while my daughter is still young.

"When you give your child words from your spirit, where Christ’s Spirit is alive, you are giving them living words."

"Too many Christian families wrongly believe that their Christian home automatically provides the family blessing for their children. Too often, the idea of that Christian home is defined by what the children are doing— Sunday school, Bible club, Christian friends and activities, Christian books, music and videos, and more. Those may all be good things, but they do not make a home “Christian.” If parents are not actively nurturing their children with the life of Christ, then it is a misnomer to call their home Christian. Only you can make your home a Christian home."

My Thoughts:

I cannot think of another book of this subject to compare it too. This is a book about building up children with wise Christian words. I know there are books that have a chapter or theme of this in a book, but not a standalone book.

It was not long ago I read another book by Sally Clarkson, Help, I’m Drowning. This is another excellent book to help those who are going through a time of crisis or suffering or a stressful experience.

What I love most about Giving Your Words is it feels as if Sally and Clay Clarkson are beside me and we are in a private conversation. I noticed this intimacy in Sally’s previous book, Help, I’m Drowning. It is her particular style of writing that I adore. I enjoy. I take to heart more because of it.

Further reasons why I love, Giving Your Words:
1. This is a book of strong encouragement, comfort, teaching, spirit-filled, uplifting, and positive.
2. I love the picture and vision of the “transformation” of children as they grow-up in a home with wise words. There is a goal, and that is in building up a child to be a healthy and strong adult.
3. Words matter. And this is a teaching that is brought out in several Bible verses throughout the book. These words should “shape” and “direct” the child.
4. Settle things in your own heart before you teach them to a child. If you are not living out the principles being spoken, words will fall flat.
5. Think about the words you speak as “living words.”
6. I love the advice on not condemning the child who goes through a time of unbelief.
7. Words bring life, but they can also bring a type of death. These words are those used in anger or cause shame. And when children hear us gossip. What is this teaching them?
8. I love the teachings about Jesus and His words: His particular words used and how He used them. “He wrapped His words in a variety of verbal styles suited to each situation.” Chapter 3.
9. I love chapter 4 in accepting who God made you to be. The child’s particular type of personality. For example, introvert or extrovert.
10. I love the “ABC’s of Loving Words.”
11. I love chapter 7 on “strengthening their imagination.”
12. I love one of the last chapters titled, “Our 24 Family Words of Life.” Some of these words are “Encouragement,” “Kindness,” “Joy,” “Gospel,” and “Spirit.”
13. At the end of the chapters is a “Verbalogistics.” This section is applications help to carry out the things taught.
Source: I received a complimentary advanced reader e-book copy from NetGalley and Bethany House. I am not required to write a positive review.
Audience: Christian parents or grandparents or those who work with and teach children.
Rating: Excellent.

3.5 stars.
I thought the premise for this book was really good. Words have power, and it makes sense that the words we speak to our children can impact them in a positive or negative way. Clay and Sally Clarkson have built a legacy of creating a positive family atmosphere centered on faith. This book narrows in on that to focus on words in particular as they contribute to the overall goals of a family.
The irony is not lost on me that my main complaint with this book is that it is too… wordy. Honestly, it has some really good points but dragged on for about twice as long as it needed to.
I think this is a good book that will be beneficial for families. I just wish it had been a bit shorter.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. As one who has valued words and has been trying to learn to use them to guide and instruct my children, this book was just what I needed. It helps encourage a thoughtful and purposeful approach to communication from a biblical standpoint.
I enjoy that it doesn't try to provide a formula (for truly there is none) but inspire a relationship of meaningful and good words with your children (though it can also be used to think of how we talk to anyone)- words that give life rather than destroy it.
At the end of each chapter there are "verbalogistics" that provide practical advice and tips to help parents put "giving your words" into practice. At the end of the book there is also "24 Family Words of Life" devotional word study as well (if you are familiar with "24 Family Ways", the model is similar).
In a world where words are causally used without a second thought, or used to encourage fear, slander, devalue life, this book is a breath of fresh air. It inspires using words to give life - truth, goodness, and beauty.

I love Sally and Clay's message of speaking life-giving words to nourish our children's hearts, minds, and souls. In Giving Your Words, Sally and Clay do not simply teach the benefit of speaking positively to children but also how to create a verbal culture in the home. I absolutely love reading this book and anticipate that I will keep it within easy reach.

If you ever find yourself asking:
How do I encourage family conversations?
How do I communicate God's love for each of the children?
How do I bless my children with my words?
How can I utilize the moments our family has together to connect?
I think you will enjoy this book very much.

More than anything, godly parents long for their little ones to become children of God by faith in Christ. This can lead to the tempting but false assurances of parenting by formula: if you do this, your child will __. In contrast, the Clarksons demonstrate a gracious way of parenting by faith, creating a holistic environment where faith can grow naturally.

Giving Your Words offers hope for the parent who so desperately longs to create a legacy of faith for their children. Using the art of conversation, which is free and happens organically every day, we can follow the Lord’s directives to teach, discipline, and disciple our beloved ones. But how? Through encouragement, wisdom from life and Scripture, and practical examples, parents will feel empowered and equipped for the everyday journey of raising a family one simple heartfelt word at a time.

Giving your words has been an encouraging and transformational resource to have as a grandparent of five and mother of four adult children. I am using the devotionals in the back of the book as a guide with my grandchildren and also in children’s ministry. Thank you Clay and Sally Clarkson. This book is a must-have resource for anyone to own.

Sally and Clay have written yet another phenomenal books that comes along parents, gently instructing and leading them in how to raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In their newest book they tell not only the importance of a home in which words are lifegiving, but how to put it in to practice. Providing their own 24 family words with talking points and biblical tie-ins for instruction.

I'll be completely honest; I almost didn't read this book. I've read several from Sally Clarkson and figured this would be more of same. I am so happy I did.

While it does offer more of the same encouragement (and who doesn't need more of that!) that I found in her previous books, this one hit a special place. Their words brought life to me and this book has blessed me with a renewed energy to continue speaking life giving words to my children every day. Whether it is a thank you, an I love you or a I know God has great plans for you, I have realized afresh that my words matter.

It's no surprise that Sally's words of encouragement and guidance in her newest book has left us all with a renewed spirit and greater desire to create a spirit-led home for our children to grow. Sally has touched on ministry of parenthood, homeschooling tips, a home and dinner table that offers life and goodness, encouragement for the weary moms, ideas to ponder. Now, she has gifted us with this, the concept of not only building a home with God at the center, with good books, art, and music...but with words. Another beautifully written book to add to your bookshelf that will inspire and motivate you.

Sally has done it again! Her and Clay have a wonderful way with writing about words that just makes sense. I’m so glad that I have found this book at this time in my life. Such knowledge and wisdom. Would recommend to anyone and everyone!