The Family (Hardcover)

~ J. R. Miller (Author) "The benediction that falls upon the homes of a country is like the gentle rain that descends among the hills..." (more)
Key Phrases: tender lives, marriage altar, wedded life, Son of God (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Don't let the title fool you. This is not just a book for women who keep home. Home-Making is an uncompromising vision statement for the domestic bliss and cultural dominion of the Christian family. The message of Home-Making is powerful: "Sisters, Brothers, Husbands, Wives -- Home life is meant to be beautiful, ennobling, and victorious!" God intends for each person, from parent to child, to play a role in family life, the ultimate goal of which is the transformation of the individual, the home and the society for the glory of God.

Miller writes things that we know are true and that we need to hear, but everyone is afraid to say. He carefully addresses each member of the family and somehow manages to find the perfect balance between inspiration and exhortation.

About the Author

James Russell Miller (March 20, 1840 -- July 2, 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: The Vision Forum, Inc. (December 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929241356
• ISBN-13: 978-1929241354
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #441,743 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poetry meets practicality, June 19, 2003

By A Customer

This book is a gem.

Written in the 1880's, this book illumines the poetic life of the family.

Would it be controversial, if published now? Absolutely. It devalues autonomy, assumes the existence of absolutes, and certainly leads the reader to think that real poetry in life is found through surrendering autonomy and embracing your husband, wife, children, brother, sister.

It's classic romance, but without fluff. The level of prose transcends anything published these days -- be ready to enjoy the english language at its finest.

And be ready for a truly refreshing introduction to life as we should know it. Less harried, less materialistic, less self-introspective, and more appreciative of the things that give life meaning -- the people directly around us.

This book teaches brothers how to care for sisters, and vice-versa. It teaches wives how to help their husbands become their best, and how men can bring out every facet of their wives' beauty. It even gives parents perspective in dealing with the loss of a child. This is not pop-psychology.

This is wisdom.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Picture of What Should Be, May 13, 2005

By	Dianne Jackel "Dream Seeker" (Napa, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After I began to read the first chapter from this book, I began to feel a lump in my throat. Emotions lay just under the surface. Perplexed, I wondered where these feeling were coming from. Then I realized that these feelings came because, for the first time in my life, I was reading about the best of once was--what should be a high standard for today's culture. Surely, this vision of the family is nothing more than a faint and burning memory on a firey ash-heap! Is there any hope left of resurrecting this vision for our families? If, one-by-one, American families began to hold on to this vision for their own families, hope exists! J.R. Miller wrote this book with extraordinary skill, using poetic and metaphorical prose to weave a dream that would have the staying power to mold and influence a family to work toward seeing the dream become a reality. It is a book that every family member should read: mother, wife, father, husband, brother, sister, child. It is a book that will utterly inspire you!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST for Every Family!, April 3, 2007

By	Texas Gal - See all my reviews

DON'T LET THE TITLE FOOL YOU! It's not another how to wash the dishes or how to keep a cleaner house,but rather a guide for every family member to do their part in making the home everything God intended it to be. It has the following chapters: The Wedded Life (perfect for those engaged, so they know what they are committing to); The Husband's Part; The Wife's part; The Parents' Part; The Childrens' Part; Brothers and Sisters; The
Home-Life; Religion in the Home; Home Memories. Each chapter deals with a different person in the home...one excerpt says, "In home-making each member of the family has a part, and the fullest happiness and blessedness of the home can be attained only when each one's part is faithfully fulfilled. If any one member of the family fails in love or duty, the failure mars the whole household life, just as one discordant voice in a company of singers spoils the music, though all the others sing in perfect accord." It's an amazingly awesome book and is written in 19th century poetic style, making it very enjoyable to read! I was extremely impressed, as was my husband. The wisdom within the pages of this book are priceless and what's amazing, is that it is still relevent for today! However, it does raise the bar and will challenge everyone within the family. (It really zones in on how to treat one another) It's not too demanding, but very scriptural, the same standards that are in the Word of God. It will inspire you moms, and will show you the eternal value of raising your children...it's uplifting and made me (as a mom) feel like I'm doing a more worthy job than leading a corporation,
or being the Queen of England! I only wish I had read this book 15 years earlier, when my kids were very little.