It was only a few short years ago (emphasis on SHORT — only 24 here) that I was a teenager trying to navigate my way through an increasingly and rapidly changing world. I didn’t have to navigate long, as at 17 God guided me to my husband and the man of my dreams who I promptly wed one year later at 18. Now, 6 years into our relationship, 5 years of marriage, and 2 sons later I am constantly faced with questions like:

“What will the world be like when THEY are teenagers?”

“If this is on TV now, what will daytime television be like when they are my age?”

“How will they navigate their way through a world with seemingly no morals or values?”

“Will I be able to parent them in such a way that when they are faced with issues like this that they can come out of it on God’s side?”

And so on. Each day I find myself as a young woman, wife, and parent still trying to navigate my way through the same rapidly changing culture only this time with more pressure as a I have two sets of young minds and eyes that are listening, watching, and learning from what I do.

I recently had the privilege of reading and reviewing a new book by Fedd Agency author, Candy Gibbs. Gibbs gives parents the practical applications, insight, and encouragement they need to save their teenage children from a culture that is swallowing them quicker than deep ocean water. It is rare that the pages of a parenting book can be so filled with both useful information and valuable biblical principles. While my sons are still only babies (one still a little womb-mate!) I have confidence reading this book that with the right help, the leading of the Holy Spirit, and a whole lot of prayer as teenagers they will “carry on a legacy of godliness to generations to come”.

One thing Rescue offers that most similar books don’t is (my personal favorite aspect of the book) a section called Let’s Ask The Lifeguards. Throughout each chapter as she covers issues like family and faith, sex and sexuality, and technology and communication she adds input from a group of young people from various backgrounds and lifestyles. They each offer their thoughts, feelings, and opinions on the topics in question. I love this because she is not approaching the book the “one size fits all-the Leave it to Beaver” method but instead approaches it with the grace and understanding that the world is more complicated and different than it has ever been and is only continuing to change with each new day. She welcomes the input of her young panel as they are the ones with the real insight on the issues and then she combines it with biblical principles and practical techniques in order to provide effective help to struggling parents.

The pages are filled with personal stories, “Treading Tips”, and “Life Preservers” that fill your parenting arsenal with tidbits of wisdom and scripture that you can pull from anytime you feel you are struggling or failing to rescue your teenagers from the world around them.

I am excited to continue to learn from parents and writers like Candy as my sons grow and change and face the world. I can’t wait for the opportunity to come that might be able to use the nuggets she offers to become a more effective mother.

Savanna Hartman

From Savanna’s website: 
Wife to Matt (10-10-09).
Mom to August (01-15-14).
Follower of Christ.
Student Life Pastor.
Health and Fitness Coach.
Writer.
Reader.
Stay At Home Mother.
Friend.
Sister.
Daughter.
Shakeology Drinker.

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