Lovely New Book from Kloria Press (A Review of Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart)

Review by Anna Mussmann

I love what Kloria Press does. Each of their books takes a theologically rich hymn and illustrates it for children. What makes these volumes special, though, is the way the illustrations tell an independent story that complements the hymn, demonstrating its relationship to the life of the Christian. The format allows a simple picture book to become surprisingly deep. 

Kloria Press has produced a number of board books, but it's their larger picture books--like this new one--that have the most scope for story. They also might be described as more daring in their themes, presenting events and imagery atypical of the kind of religious books for children you usually find in bookstores. 

Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart is a hymn that looks to Christ for both earthly comfort and for rest after death. Kelly Schumacher has illustrated it to show us a young girl who becomes ill--cancer is suggested--and goes to join her Savior. Her family is shown mourning her, and, later, reuniting in Heaven. 

The death of a child is not something one finds in many picture books. Yet how can children understand the need for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross--and His resurrection--if we do not talk about death? A book like this allows parents to present death in a Christian context, to answer a child’s questions, and to point towards the hope we all share. Because the text is limited to the words of the hymn, parents can easily adapt the discussion to the needs and understanding of their own children.

I envision many readers finding the loveliness of these illustrations comforting. They are lovely. Ms. Schumacher's heartfelt art is special. Yet--and this is probably just me--some of the spreads seem to fall on the pretty/romantic side of the spectrum. I wonder if some boys would consider them "girly" (although it's also true that children are drawn to both beauty and prettiness). I would also quibble that it would have been nice to see a Jesus who looked less blondly European, and that it's preferable to avoid portraying angels as women and children. Mightn’t the latter reinforce the popular misconception that people become angels after death? Or that angels are female? 

Again, though, this is a thoughtfully executed book with a wonderful concept. It takes children seriously by offering them historic hymns without adulteration or simplified explanation. I recommend checking it out.

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After graduating from Concordia Wisconsin, Anna taught in Lutheran schools for several years and became so enthusiastic about Classical Education that she will talk about it to whomever will listen. She is a big fan of Jane Austen, dark chocolate, and the Oxford comma. Anna and her husband live in Pennsylvania with their two small children. Anna's work can also be found in The Federalist.

New Site for Lutheran Home Educators

By Deaconess Mary J. Moerbe

There are a lot of women who went to college, got degrees, and then, whether by design or development, stayed home following marriage. Some call themselves professional homemakers, emphasizing home over house. I'd like to suggest that those who homeschool can also consider themselves professional homeschoolers.

Does that mean I think you can make money by opening your home as a mini-school or one-room schoolhouse? Not necessarily. At the same time, what we do within our vocations is not a hobby. We are not hobbyists, but professionals!

There is not particularly job training for marriage or parenting. After all, our vocations cannot be boiled down to general or vague steps to follow. We serve our neighbor and that is about as narrow and specific as it can get! And the reasons that drive us to homeschooling may mean that typical secular educational training is not the training we actively pursue.

Others may not understand our desire to stay home. They may not be able to imagine our desire to stay home with children who can admittedly run us ragged. And, frankly, those children can make any amount of housekeeping and homemaking sometimes seem like a lofty and unattainable desire. Still, we are working at it. We may have no office but our home, but we wake up, face the day, and accomplish what we can.

Why Yes, this IS a Post!

By Anna Mussmann

Often while washing the dinner dishes I think of a topic for an article. It seems as if I should write it. And yet, at the same time, perhaps not. Almost everything I write is based on opinion. Sometimes I feel confident that mine are good opinions, shaped by having learned from people who are wiser than myself. Yet at other times I wonder. What if all these words are merely the outflow of callow youth? What if I look back in ten years and wish I had waited to grow up and build a more mature outlook before I shared it with others? That would be pretty embarrassing.

Besides, since the birth of Mini-Mussmann-Number-Three, juggling my various daily duties has felt more complicated. My brain is just more tired out, and by the time I sit down at my computer, I tend to want to just make a Shutterfly album so I can look at pictures of my cute children. Who are, by the way, extremely photogenic.

Yet I’ve begun writing again lately. Here and there. I hope readers know that I realize my own fallibility. I hope I don’t come across as thinking I have the answers. And, yes, I admit I also hope someone is reading this stuff, because mixed in with the doubts is a desire to communicate to the world outside my home. To possibly be useful, interesting, funny, or entertaining. To have readers.

So. . . there will probably be posts in this space. But slowly!

Blessings,

Anna