Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas
Week 9: Chapter 8 — Marking Milestones: How Parenting Teaches Us to Pay Attention
Read Chapter 8 of Sacred Parenting by Gary L. Thomas.
Previewing Week 9 of Sacred Parenting
Read 3 of 6 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 12-week guide when you’re ready.
Children grow so quickly that parents who are not paying attention will miss the very moments that parenting is made of — and Thomas argues that the practice of paying attention is itself a form of spiritual formation.
Discussion Questions
6 questions1.Thomas argues that one of the great spiritual lessons of parenting is attentiveness — learning to notice, to be present, and to mark what matters. How attentive would you honestly say you are in your daily life with your children? What most often distracts you?
2.He draws on the biblical tradition of setting up 'stones of remembrance' — intentional acts of marking and celebrating what God has done. What are the 'milestones' your family marks, and what do those rituals communicate to your children about memory, gratitude, and God?
3.Thomas reflects on how quickly children change — a pace that can feel like loss if we're not paying attention. Have you ever been startled by how much your child had grown without your fully noticing? What does that experience stir in you?
a.Is there a stage of your child's life you feel you missed or rushed through? How do you hold that with grace?
b.What one thing could you do differently right now to be more present in this current season?