
Parent Forward
Parent Forward: Where Parenting Meets Spiritual Formation
with Julie Ann Luse
Parenting is more than managing behavior — it’s sacred, formative work.
Parent Forward invites you to see raising kids through a new lens: as a holy journey of becoming, both for your children and for you. Join longtime ministry leader, mother of three, and spiritual formation guide Julie Ann Luse as she explores the everyday moments of parenting through the lens of faith, neuroscience, and soul-deep connection.
Through personal stories, research-backed insights, and biblical wisdom, Julie Ann helps parents move beyond quick fixes and behavior charts to embrace the slow, beautiful work of forming souls — including their own. Every episode offers gentle encouragement, honest reflections, and practical steps to help you cultivate a spiritually nurturing home where love, grace, and presence shape the next generation.
If you’re longing for deeper connection, tired of parenting tips that miss the heart, and hungry to weave your faith naturally into daily family life — Parent Forward is for you.
It’s not about perfection.
It’s not about performance.
It’s about becoming — one faithful step at a time.
Subscribe and begin moving forward today.
Parent Forward
Episode 6: SACRED PLAY SERIES pt. 1 | Play Is Holy — Rediscovering Joy in a World That Worships Work
SHOW NOTES: https://parentforward.com/sacredplayseries-playisholy/
Remember when laughter came easy? When joy didn't need a reason? Somewhere along the way, most of us traded imagination for efficiency and forgot how to play. This profound loss isn't just about missing out on fun—it's about missing a sacred pathway to spiritual formation.
When my daughter asked me to pretend to be a baby bunny, I froze. The request seemed trivial, even inconvenient. Yet in that moment of hesitation, I recognized something deeper at stake. She wasn't just asking for my time; she was inviting me into a forgotten posture of lightheartedness and freedom. What followed—my awkward hopping and nose-twitching that sent her into fits of giggles—created a connection between us that felt holy, a moment where heaven brushed against earth.
Theologians and children's spirituality experts have long recognized what most adults forget: play isn't a break from serious work—it might be the work itself. When children were asked what they would say if Jesus appeared at dinner, they didn't ask him to solve problems or answer theological questions. Their responses were beautifully simple: "Will you stay for dinner?" "Will you hunt for bugs with me?" "Will you have a tea party?" They didn't ask Jesus to fix anything—they invited him to play. What if the divine is found not in our striving but in our silliness? What if play is prayer?
This episode opens a new series exploring sacred play as spiritual practice—not as another item on your to-do list but as a gentle return to something your soul already knows. Join me in rediscovering the God who rejoices over us with singing, who delights in our delight, and who never tires of playing. Share your own stories of rediscovered play on Instagram @parentforwardpodcast or visit parentforward.com for resources to help you continue this journey. The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these—perhaps it's time we remembered how to enter it.
Let’s Stay Connected:
- Instagram: @parentforwardpodcast
- Website: www.parentforward.com