Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-09-01 06:54:12
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Justin Whitmel Earley
- ISBN：0310362938
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Summary
Discover simple habits and easy-to-implement daily rhythms that will help you find meaning beyond the chaos of family life as you create a home where kids and parents alike practice how to love God and each other。
You long for tender moments with your children--but do you ever find yourself too busy to stop， make eye contact， and say something you really mean？ Daily habits are powerful ways to shape the heart--but do you find yourself giving in to screen time just to get through the day？ You want to parent with purpose--but do you know how to start？
Award-winning author and father of four Justin Whitmel Earley understands the tension between how you long to parent and what your daily life actually looks like。 In Habits of the Household， Earley gives you the tools you need to create structure--from mealtimes to bedtimes--that free you to parent toddlers， kids， and teens with purpose。 Learn how to:
Develop a bedtime liturgy to settle your little ones and ground them in God's love
Discover a new framework for discipline as discipleship
Acquire simple practices for more regular and meaningful family mealtimes
Open your eyes to the spirituality of parenting， seeing small moments as big opportunities for spiritual formation
Develop a custom age chart for your family to more intentionally plan your shared years under the same roof
Each chapter in Habits of the Household ends with practical patterns， prayers， or liturgies that your family can put into practice right away。 As you create liberating rhythms around your everyday routines， you will find your family has a greater sense of peace and purpose as your home becomes a place where， above all， you learn how to love。
You long for tender moments with your children--but do you ever find yourself too busy to stop， make eye contact， and say something you really mean？ Daily habits are powerful ways to shape the heart--but do you find yourself giving in to screen time just to get through the day？ You want to parent with purpose--but do you know how to start？
Award-winning author and father of four Justin Whitmel Earley understands the tension between how you long to parent and what your daily life actually looks like。 In Habits of the Household， Earley gives you the tools you need to create structure--from mealtimes to bedtimes--that free you to parent toddlers， kids， and teens with purpose。 Learn how to:
Develop a bedtime liturgy to settle your little ones and ground them in God's love
Discover a new framework for discipline as discipleship
Acquire simple practices for more regular and meaningful family mealtimes
Open your eyes to the spirituality of parenting， seeing small moments as big opportunities for spiritual formation
Develop a custom age chart for your family to more intentionally plan your shared years under the same roof
Each chapter in Habits of the Household ends with practical patterns， prayers， or liturgies that your family can put into practice right away。 As you create liberating rhythms around your everyday routines， you will find your family has a greater sense of peace and purpose as your home becomes a place where， above all， you learn how to love。
Reviews
Cathy
，
I actually rate this book 4。5 stars rather than 5， but it's not an available option so。。。。。 it gets bumped up lolI've read the author's other book， The Common Rule， and this book is similar to it in they both provide simple， liturgy-like steps and recitations to incorporate into minuscules of life。 This is not my way of life at all， so I'm not going to incorporate any of them。 His attitude toward discipline is also far too lenient in my opinion in addressing the gravity of sin。 But there are cer I actually rate this book 4。5 stars rather than 5， but it's not an available option so。。。。。 it gets bumped up lolI've read the author's other book， The Common Rule， and this book is similar to it in they both provide simple， liturgy-like steps and recitations to incorporate into minuscules of life。 This is not my way of life at all， so I'm not going to incorporate any of them。 His attitude toward discipline is also far too lenient in my opinion in addressing the gravity of sin。 But there are certain things I like about the book: 1） At the end of each chapter， he repeats a statement about how we are not developing habits to be more godly， instead we ask God to move our hearts so that we develop habits that point to him。 I think it's a nice reminder that keeps readers from going legalistic about the habits。 2） The epilogue is phenomenally well written。 The timeline he laid out to see in which year his kids and himself will be at various different ages reminds me of the It's Just a Phase series。 The passages he wrote after he presented the timeline story was the best part of the book， in my opinion。 Very thankful for his encouraging words and for God to give me these parenting years。 。。。more
Delaney Williams
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“The idea of cultivating habits of the household is nothing more than cultivating rhythms of looking at the God who is always looking back at us。” Practical， big picture advice that is full of grace and truth while challenging me。 Will re-listen over and over。
Bekah Behnke
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This is by far the best， most refreshing parenting book I have read。 While it’s filled with practical action， it all comes back to the word of God
Ashley Wells
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Devoured the audiobook。
Jessica Hartkopf
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Amazing book， practical and easy to read， solid information， full of grace and good perspective， leaves you feeling hopeful and convicted， but not guilty or despairing。 Highly recommend。
Hillary Blatherwick
，
Highly recommend for all who have kids and/or want kids。 Practical yet gospel centered。 Dj and I would read a chapter and then go on a date and talk about how we can implement the practices and habits in our home。 It took us forever to read but looking back it was worth it to take the time to talk about each chapter together。 SO GOOD！！！！
Brit
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Geared for families of little kids。 I have teens so not as relevant。
Rebecca
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Incredible。 Definitely something I would want to read again and again over the course of my life。 I cried multiple times， felt the Father‘s presence， and I loved so much of what this book had to offer。 Highly recommended！
Annie
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This is the most inspiring parenting book I have read in a long time。 If you have young kids and are a Christian， you should definitely read this。 If you don’t have kids or aren’t a Christian， there is still some really good stuff here。
Margo Marie
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Probably my favorite book this year。 Written with such transparency and humbleness， from a parent of young kids that is in the trenches。 He offers such practical tips and advice of how to form habits that will point the family to God daily。 Loved， loved， loved this book！
JordanWinslow13
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The identity of our families is being formed as we speak。 Whether by the unconscious habits we engage in or by purposeful ones， every member of your family and mine is being shaped into the person they will become。 Habits of the Household hopes to help parents be intentional with their family habits so that the outcome is "something other than the typical anxiety-ridden， depression-prone， lonely， confused， and screen-addicted teenager" （p。 16）。Earley opens the book by explaining how our habits d The identity of our families is being formed as we speak。 Whether by the unconscious habits we engage in or by purposeful ones， every member of your family and mine is being shaped into the person they will become。 Habits of the Household hopes to help parents be intentional with their family habits so that the outcome is "something other than the typical anxiety-ridden， depression-prone， lonely， confused， and screen-addicted teenager" （p。 16）。Earley opens the book by explaining how our habits determine what we love and， ultimately， who we will become。 To combat the bad habits of modern America， we can turn our homes into "'schools of love，' places where we have one vocation， one calling: to form all who live here into lovers of God and neighbor" （p。15）。 This is absolutely a noble feat。The rest of the book is broken up in to 10 areas of focus in which we should try to build habits。 Some are geared toward forming parents （waking and marriage）， some form families （mealtimes， work， play and conversation） and some form children （discipline， screentime， family devotions and bedtime）。As Earley walks through each of these， the reader is given some anecdote about his family life， a basic theology to wrap your mind around and some practical tips for forming good habits。 The earlier habits such as meal times， screentime and family devotions were fantastic and give much to think about。 As the book goes on， however， it seems to lose steam （e。g。 there is little helpful in the chapter on bedtime）。Overall， I think the book functions as a great conversation starter for parents to work with。 It has definitely made me think about many things I've not previously thought of。 However， the major drawback seems to be that Justin just doesn't have enough to say in this book。 My advice to the author would be to revise this book in twenty years when his kids have all grown up and he has had a chance to flesh these ideas out a little more fully。 。。。more
Beth
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5+ stars。 Excellent in both tone and content。 Highly recommended！！
Cassie Zabor
，
Wow seriously 10/10。 One of the best books I’ve read all year。 Such an amazing resource that I will have on my kitchen counter for years to come with notes written all over it。 The most practical， truth bearing book on raising children to love God and love others。 I feel like I basically underlined every sentence of the whole book。 Such practical everyday habits that form us into a household of believers。 A few of my favorite quotes: “The most Christian way to think about our households is that Wow seriously 10/10。 One of the best books I’ve read all year。 Such an amazing resource that I will have on my kitchen counter for years to come with notes written all over it。 The most practical， truth bearing book on raising children to love God and love others。 I feel like I basically underlined every sentence of the whole book。 Such practical everyday habits that form us into a household of believers。 A few of my favorite quotes: “The most Christian way to think about our households is that they are little ‘schools of love’， places where we have one vocation， one calling: to form all who live here into lovers of God and neighbor”。 “It means that we parents who want to pattern our households in gospel formation should not just be looking for that one-off spiritual conversation that we hope our kids remember， we should be patterning our houses with the kinds of keystone family rhythms that turn kids into disciples of Jesus。” 。。。more
Kelly Starnes
，
I LOVED this！ It’s full of realistic ways to form good habits and maintain them even when you don’t feel like it。 I will probably reread。 💯
Byron Flores
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Es un libro simple pero con verdades y principios dignos de reflexionar y aplicar。 Me ayudo mucho saber y recordar que el autor nos lleva a tener nuestra mirada en Jesús también en la paternidad pues no podemos solos。
Rachel Schultz
，
really close between a 2 and 3 star so I’m trying to be generous but I don’t want you to think I don’t hate the wokeness and feminism in it。 Didn’t know this dude and the names on the back of book endorsing are troublesome people。 But some of the content is very observant and profound。Warning this book has that type of writing Christian authors of a certain brand do that is long paragraphs revelling in how disorderly their house is。 “Two kids are having a wrestling match in the bath tub; in anot really close between a 2 and 3 star so I’m trying to be generous but I don’t want you to think I don’t hate the wokeness and feminism in it。 Didn’t know this dude and the names on the back of book endorsing are troublesome people。 But some of the content is very observant and profound。Warning this book has that type of writing Christian authors of a certain brand do that is long paragraphs revelling in how disorderly their house is。 “Two kids are having a wrestling match in the bath tub; in another room a child is pouring flour in the carpet; I hear a terrible a scream upstairs; I can’t remember whose T。 rex toothbrush is whose” etc。 （That’s my paraphrasing/parodying the genre。） It’s really lame and also not funny when they’re trying to go for that。 He had enough good content I kept going。 but by the end I was rushing to wrap it up。The first chapter with his point about liturgy （or “habits” if you’re the self help writer） and his big picture principle was 5 or 6/5 stars with the proceeding chapters where he got to talking about daily life showed he is not v wise。 Every page has a keen sentence but then you have to go through some dull and some cringe paragraphs inbetween。 。。。more
Jess Garrett
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Every Christian parent needs this book。
Laura Burdick
，
There were many helpful ideas in this book。 The key idea was that life isn't made up of big， significant moments， so much as it is made up of everyday moments。 We should try to structure our everyday moments in ways that allow us （and our families） to grow in the grace of the gospel。 Daily rhythms that remind you of the gospel will slowly， over time， shape your heart and your mind。 "The greatest spiritual work happens in the normal moments of domestic life。" （pg。 24） In many ways， this book seem There were many helpful ideas in this book。 The key idea was that life isn't made up of big， significant moments， so much as it is made up of everyday moments。 We should try to structure our everyday moments in ways that allow us （and our families） to grow in the grace of the gospel。 Daily rhythms that remind you of the gospel will slowly， over time， shape your heart and your mind。 "The greatest spiritual work happens in the normal moments of domestic life。" （pg。 24） In many ways， this book seemed to continue the conversation from The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place。Here are a few thoughts / things that I'd like to remember from each of the areas of life considered in this book:Waking - Create a habit of praying as the first thing you do in the morning （he suggests kneeling by your bed for a quick， sentence-length prayer）。 Read the Scriptures before you look at your phone。 Even if this just means reading （or listening to） a quick Psalm， start your day with God's word rather than social media or the news or e-mail。Mealtimes - This was a reminder that mealtime is supposed to be about relationships。 Friendships are formed around a shared meal。 "In the passing of dishes， we practice delayed gratification。 In complimenting the meal， we practice the power of spoken encouragement。 In withholding criticisms， we practice the virtue of silence， we are reminded that lots of things we think aren't worth saying。 In [conversation]， we practice telling stories， recalling memories， celebrating and sympathizing with each other。 We practice forgiving when someone spills something （again！）。 And in waiting until we're excused， we practice sticking around even when we don't want to - the root of learning loyalty。 Finally， as we help clean and reset the kitchen for the next day， we practice the truth that the gift of communal life takes the ethic of communal labor。" （pg。 59-60） Mealtime is also a wonderful time to practice hospitality。Discipline - Before you discipline a child， pause for a moment。 This gives you a chance to make sure that your attitude is right - not an attitude of anger or frustration， but of love and discipleship。 It also gives you a chance to pray and ask for God's help and realize that we also struggle with the same sins that our children struggle with。 After disciplining a child， always end in reconciliation。 Give your child a hug or snuggle。 Have them give their sibling a hug （he suggests a hug that lasts until both crack a smile or laugh）。Screentime - This chapter pulled a lot from The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place， and I think that book was a more thorough treatment of the subject。Family Devotions - Some catechism recommendations: New City Catechism， http://sovgraceto。org/wp-content/uplo。。。， the Westminster Shorter Catechism。 Use music to help memorize Scripture （Slugs and Bugs is one musical group that helps with this）。Marriage - One thing I liked about this chapter was the advice to dream together with your spouse。 Ask your spouse questions about what they are thinking about the future - what is a goal they are hoping for or working toward？ where do they feel our family is headed？ etc。Work - When you talk about work， talk about how it's a good thing that God has given us。 We can enter into the creative and loving work of God in this world。 Kids should also be taught how to work and how to be a part of the household。 Where possible， let kids see your work outside of the house - bring them to work with you， explain what you do， etc。Play - Play is a way to develop imagination。 The Christian life needs imagination - we believe there is more to this world than just material things。 Kids understand this better than adults， and we can encourage this through reading good stories and play。 Some lists of good books here: The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids， 100 Best Books for ChildrenConversation - Conversation often happens around "third things" （e。g。， eating something， doing something together）。Bedtime - Some suggested bedtime prayers 。。。more
Karla Osorno
，
Rating 4。5 stars。Habits of the Household is the second habit book （The Common Rule is the first） by Justin Whitney Earley I have read and loved。 Earley’s ideas about habits and how our habits form us spiritually make so much sense。 All he says about habit formation in ten segments of our days and lives， plus the examples and his humility make this book a great read and resource。 I highly recommend it and encourage reading it in a group。 Every Wednesday morning at 6 am several women I care for me Rating 4。5 stars。Habits of the Household is the second habit book （The Common Rule is the first） by Justin Whitney Earley I have read and loved。 Earley’s ideas about habits and how our habits form us spiritually make so much sense。 All he says about habit formation in ten segments of our days and lives， plus the examples and his humility make this book a great read and resource。 I highly recommend it and encourage reading it in a group。 Every Wednesday morning at 6 am several women I care for meet to discuss who God is， what he says， and what it means in our life。 This summer， we hiked together 3 Wednesdays a month and talked about this book the remaining Wednesday。 It was wonderful。 The insights our group shared made a difference and added to the content。 Attention to these areas in our homes and use of these principles are transformative。 。。。more
Reid Echelmeier
，
If you worried this is a book that will further crush you under the weight of how you’re falling short as a parent， fear not。 This book gives hope and encouragement to weary parents to see change and discipleship in their families by casting a vision of intentional habits during the ordinary routines that are already happening。 Illustrated by many less-than-perfect examples from his own family， Earley gives practical guidelines for how to go about the messy， difficult， and completely worthwhile If you worried this is a book that will further crush you under the weight of how you’re falling short as a parent， fear not。 This book gives hope and encouragement to weary parents to see change and discipleship in their families by casting a vision of intentional habits during the ordinary routines that are already happening。 Illustrated by many less-than-perfect examples from his own family， Earley gives practical guidelines for how to go about the messy， difficult， and completely worthwhile task of raising our children to know the Lord and to glorify him with their lives。 。。。more
Katherine Espinoza
，
I really loved this book。 It’s so wise but also practical in showing us how we can form the habits that lay a foundation for our children of lives lived in light of the love of Christ。 And more than that， I can see myself and my kids in the stories he shares。 I have a lump in my throat from the heartache of knowing I’m not getting it all right but that grace and mercy abound and it’s not too late to start these rhythms。 Highly recommend。
Tristan
，
Justin is awesome。 I’ve loved both his books and think that they do an awesome job of introducing the spiritual formation habits and practices that I love from authors like John Mark Comer， but he frames them in the language of authors that I think conservative， reformed Christians will be used to。 I think he is an amazing gateway author for people to enter into great spiritual formation books。I am spreading news of this book widely at my church！
Ericka
，
This book was so perfect for a parent of young children。 Practical， applicable and easy to read with plenty of great， real-life examples。 Justin Whitmel Early does a fantastic job of making parents feel like this is meaningful stuff -- and do-able。 Loved it！
Amber
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I cannot recommend this book enough。 I don't think I've ever underlined or jotted notes in a book as much as I did with this one。 I cannot recommend this book enough。 I don't think I've ever underlined or jotted notes in a book as much as I did with this one。 。。。more
Bridget
，
4。5 ⭐️ Such a great book on family rhythms and showing God’s love to those within your family by intentional parenting。 The author only has young children， although it’s not too late for the principles if you only have older children。 Using examples of not only his family， but also that of the author growing up， makes it relatable to all and easy to understand。 I thoroughly enjoyed this book and didn’t take long to get through （some nonfiction takes me a long time）！ 😉
Jamaal Williams
，
Really good book for parents with small children。 My wife and I found it very practical and well thought out。
Rachel Clark
，
Excellent book for parents trying to build in rhythms of worship， prayer & overall intentionality with kids。 JWE is incredibly wise for his age and it helps that he’s in the thick of it raising 4 boys。 I think I’ll add this to my yearly rotation as there are great truths I regularly need reminded of！
Rachelle Oliver
，
Excellent book for parents。 I'm going to buy a physical copy of it for sure。 （I listened to the audio） Excellent book for parents。 I'm going to buy a physical copy of it for sure。 （I listened to the audio） 。。。more
Cate
，
This is not a book of burdensome expectations or goals for your family。 It’s not written from a boastful perspective。 It’s simple - and that’s why I love it。
Aliesha
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