Self-esteem separates the winners from the losers. For Christians, such self-esteem comes from the knowledge that God created us for Himself out of sheer love. We are God's beloved children, one community of faith through Christ Jesus. God loves each of us unconditionally from the day we are born and calls us to be part of His family. This Christian truth provides the primary foundation on which to build self-esteem in young children and forms the basis of the spiritual tools described in this book.
Children who believe that they are loved unconditionally feel worthy of the good things in life, such as happiness and success. A child who feels he is capable of handling successfully whatever difficulties arise in this life will have the necessary confidence to overcome his problems and get along in life. A child who is encouraged to try again when he fails will believe that failure is just a necessary stepping stone to success. Such a child will risk failing many times until he finally succeeds. The ability to persevere is a hallmark of a positive self-image. A child who perseveres trusts his own judgment and thinks for himself rather than relying on the opinion of others.