Grit can fire up families to defy spiritual mediocrity.

A rabid bat attack, a cancer diagnosis turned gospel megaphone, Grandma Camp, and a young boy fighting to save his vision are a few of the true-life examples that mark the path to building spiritual grit in families. The authors use scripture narratives such as rebuilding the Jerusalem walls and characters like Rahab and Elijah who need grit in a pinch. Scripture is blended with practical tips to keep the audience reading and help listeners move easily from theory to practice in an appealing and often humorous environment.

This book has 12 chapters. Assignments and discussion questions are provided for each chapter. The contributions of the author, a mother (Colleen), and her three daughters (Haley, Rosalind, and Claire) offer the listener a multigenerational view of building spiritual strength in families. Also, because all four contributors are now adults, this work looks at parenting from the back side of the process. The counsel offered is time-tested.

Tumbling Stones is replete with practical strategies:

• Managing kids’ excesses with games and entertainment
• The daily gentle nudge for getting things done
• A solution to whether to give kids an allowance
• Designed to complement Bible class or personal study

Colleen O’Steen is the author of From Will to Power. She has taught women’s and children’s Bible classes for more than 35 years and is a speaker at Christian conferences.