Helping Your Family to Know ‘Every Life Matters’

How do parents and caregivers explain that everyone has value and worth in a way that is age-appropriate, compassionate and grounded in Christian faith?

“I was always, as a young mum, looking for strong, biblically based books for my children to understand the truth,” author Mandy Furlong told Hope Mornings.

A counsellor and homeschooling mum-of-five, Mandy wrote Every Life Matters, a new children’s book designed to help families discuss human dignity and the value of life.

From Parliament House to the family home

The seeds of Every Life Matters were sown in Mandy as she sat in NSW Parliament during discussions around abortion legislation.

“I had this realisation that, yes, change happens in politics, but it actually happens in homes and families where core values are developed,” Mandy said.

“I thought, ‘I can actually do something here. I can create a resource that can help kids understand these topics and understand the value of life.’”

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Teaching children about human value

Although the book contains numerous Bible references, Mandy said it is not simply a retelling of Bible stories.

“I wanted [something] that would speak to the current issues and target biblical responses to some of those tangible issues,” she said.

For Mandy, a vital foundation for us all is to know and believe every person has value.

“I need to understand God created us in the womb,” she said, describing the message she hopes children grasp from Every Life Matters.

“I really took from the point of view of helping a child understand when a baby is conceived, it’s valuable from that moment.”

She was also careful about the language used throughout the book.

“I really tried to steer away from using the word ‘abortion’, because it’s not about that,” Mandy said.

“We don’t judge people when they’re facing these things. We reach out and say, in love, there’s a better way.”

Giving parents language for difficult conversations

Mandy hopes Every Life Matters equips parents to discuss challenging topics with confidence and grace.

“My hope was that this book would give parents language,” she said.

The story includes illustrations of families engaging with their communities and encourages children to understand how they can participate in causes they care about.

“We don’t judge people when they’re facing these things,” Mandy said.

“We reach out and say, in love, there’s a better way.”

Every Life Matters is available through Raising Revivalists and other online stores.

Listen to the full conversation in the player above.

Feature image: Supplied (Canva Pro)