Great Advice for Loving that Out-of-the-Box Kid

Nathan was different and Sally knew it.

From his early childhood, Nathan was bursting with creativity 
and uncontainable energy, struggling not only with learning issues but also with anxiety and OCD. He saw the world through his own unique lens—one that often caused him to be labeled as “bad,” “troubled,” or someone in need of “fixing.”  
Bravely choosing to listen to her motherly intuition rather than the loud voices of the world, Sally dared to believe that Nathan’s differences could be part of an intentional design from a loving Creator with a plan for his life. She trusted that the things that made him different were the very things that could make him great.

Join Sally and Nathan as they share their stories from a personal perspective as mother and son. If you are in need of help and hope in your own journey with an outside-the-box child, or if you’re an adult trying to make sense of your differences, you’ll find deep insight, resonance, and encouragement in the pages of this book. Dare to love and nurture the “different” one in your life.

Available on Amazon and other online retailers

Meet the Authors:

Sally Clarkson is the beloved author of numerous books, including Different (with Nathan Clarkson), Own Your Life, The Mission of Motherhood, Desperate (with Sarah Mae), and The Lifegiving Home (with Sarah Clarkson). As a mother of four, she has inspired thousands of mothers though Whole Heart Ministries, which she co-founded with her husband, Clay, in 1998. Since then, she has advocated relentlessly for the power of family through her Mom Heart conferences, speaking to audiences on several continents. 
Visit her at SallyClarkson.com.

Nathan Clarkson is an actor, a writer, a producer, a speaker, a poet, and a lover of stories. Nathan has appeared in national commercials, TV shows, and feature films. Recently Nathan starred opposite Kevin Sorbo in the faith-based film Confessions of a Prodigal Son, written and produced by Nathan and his production company, Lighting Dark. Nathan is currently working on producing his second feature film, The Art of Finding Yourself While Losing Your Mind.
While growing up, Nathan was constantly described as "out of the box." But even though he was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other learning disabilities, Nathan was able to take what many saw as "disorders" and turn them into "superpowers."
Nathan lives all over but can usually be found in Los Angeles, New York, or Colorado Springs. He is an imperfect but dedicated Jesus follower and is passionate about revealing truth, beauty, true love, and purpose through the beautiful art of story.
Visit him at NathanClarkson.me

My Take:
Nathan and Sally speak volumes as they share from their heart in this insightful book about living with an out-of-the-box child. Raising Nathan during a time when many of these disorders (ADHD, OCD, etc) were not well-known and there weren't many solutions to the issues at hand, Sally bravely attempted to bring Nathan up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Dealing with his attention issues and other obsessive compulsive problems day in and day out were a challenge and struggle for Sally. Yet, she continuously sought to love her son and reach out to him.
Sally and Nathan share the ups and downs of their years together. Nathan shares his feelings, and what it was like to have these disorders, and his deepest desires. Sally shares the encouragement she received from God's word, the insights she got and practiced daily, as well as, the difficulties, including criticism and advice from well-meaning people. They have become vulnerable to help others. We get an inside look, but we also get encouragement on our own journeys with out-of-the-box kids.
This book helped me tremendously in recognizing the needs in my own children's lives. Neither have the equal amount of challenges Nathan faced, but there are certain things I can pick out in each child that relate. And Sally's encouragement and support was just what I needed to be reminded to seek God, cater to their hearts, and remember that they were each created individually in God's image for a purpose here on earth. They are unique and loved by their Creator. When I am baffled, confused and at the end of my rope, He is the one I need to turn to. 
I believe this book will be an asset to any mother, but also to those who may have already been on this journey and need some extra encouragement. Maybe you just know some kids like this, work with them, or have family members with these struggles. Nathan's point of view can help one who is going through this even as a grown up, as many times the challenges are not out-grown. For me... this book offers hope, insight, and a better outlook. I am so thankful they took the time and made the effort to share their story. 
I received a free copy of this book through the Tyndale Blogger Network to read. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.