Experienced priest, parent, and grandparent Fr. George Shalhoub has drawn on his lifetime of experience in his recently released book The Ten Commandments: A Guide for Today’s Orthodox Christian Families. Through his many years of experience as a father, both to his parish and to his own children, Fr. George acquired insights that he has included in his new book. A useful resource to Orthodox Christians of all ages, The Ten Commandments invites its readers on “a special journey of God’s love,” intended to help them “discover how to navigate life.”
The book takes the reader through each of the Ten Commandments, exploring the teachings of Christ and the Church Fathers about each one. After each chapter, related Orthodox prayers offer readers the opportunity to respond. In the book’s text, Fr. George raises intriguing questions, like:
- How does “have no other gods before me” apply to today’s practical realities?
- What sort of idolatry do we practice today?
- How can remembering the Sabbath day help our family and neighbors, and set the stage for the week?
- Are there other ways to murder besides ending another’s life?
- Besides stealing someone’s property, how do we steal?
- Who are we actually lying to and belittling when we bear false witness?
An excellent resource for parents and teachers, The Ten Commandments offers a roadmap on the journey with Christ. There is much content here for discussion with children of all ages, whether it is used as a “read aloud” book with younger children, or a book that older children, teens, or adults read on their own.
“I urge you…,” concludes Fr. George at the end of the book, “to use these works as a foundational roadmap to creating balance in a changing world. Teaching your children to love God’s laws and find joy by walking in the footprints of our Lord Jesus Christ is a gift to them that will last a lifetime… [strengthening] them in these times of radical change and [improving] their relationships with God as well as with others.”
The Ten Commandments: A Guide for Today’s Orthodox Christian Families is available in paperback (email: gshalhoub@tbosm.com) or as a Kindle eBook on Amazon. Books may be purchased through the St. Mary Church office for $15.00, and the proceeds will be donated to the Archdiocese’s Christian Education Ministry or to the parish. Checks can be sent to: St. Mary Orthodox Church, 18100 Merriman, Livonia, MI 48152.
Christian Education Ministry spoke with Fr. George about his book release.
How did this begin–at what point in your family life or your ministry years did the need for this book became apparent?
In all my life through my experiences addressing marriage and family issues in light of the four gospels as a parent, pastor, and professor, I have discovered there are many common elements in the problems families face, such as respect for one’s own parents and nurturing healthy family relationships. When the pandemic hit, attendance in church was greatly reduced, and I lost the opportunity to teach in person. Our children did not have access to Sunday School for three years! During that time, I began to write this book on the Ten Commandments–the principles one can live by.
In the book you discuss how Christ has expanded each Commandment. How has Christ deepened our understanding of the Ten Commandements through His related commands?
Christ asked us to exceed what the Ten Commandments state. In other words, it is not enough to love family, not enough to help friends, and not enough to pray for the one you love. As an extension of His life, Christ calls us to help strangers, to love our enemies, and to pray for those who mistreat us.
How have the concepts that you present in this book affected your own life?
I’ve been married for 52 years and we raised four children, and I owe my wife a great deal of gratitude for how she taught our children to love, to forgive, and to respect others! The Christian virtues are so basic for human beings, if we want to exist in the image and likeness of God. In particular, we struggle to teach children how to honor their parents. Our experience taught us that we are to honor our children and be their role models, without preaching to them, through prayer and worship, and with mutual love and communication between us as their parents.
I learned from my mother that you do not have to say or explain too much because children observe and absorb like sponges; they emulate their parents in times of joy or times of crisis. Children learn these virtues from home, not in school or in playing in sports. My children are now adults; the oldest is 50. All are married and are instilling the same virtues in raising their own children.
Is there a particular Commandment that has most strongly influenced your fatherhood (either as a parent or as a priest)?
The first Commandment is the foundation of the rest of the nine commandments, as it states, “I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before Me.” Without the first, no other commandments matter and nothing makes sense. There are two messages in the first Commandment. The first is, “I am your God.” As Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Light.”
The second message is that nothing should come between us and God; we should not withhold our talents, our possessions, or our education from others. As we have received the gifts from God, we are to give back to people. We live in an age where the media, television, social events, and politics are directly attacking the morality of family. Today, we have created gods as role models for us: a sports player or movie star. Yet if they are the role models for our children rather than people of virtue and faith, there is no hope for our families to raise good children.
How would you recommend that families or parishes best utilize this book?
This book was written precisely to engage parents and children by its presentation. It asks the questions, “What do I treasure? How can we invite Christ into all aspects of our lives?” And the answer is given in the form of another question, “Where would an Orthodox Christian have an encounter with Christ, His disciples and saints, but in the Church?” This book challenges children and parents to take the time to make their home a little church. This is what the Church teaches us–home is the first church.
Is there a place where your readers can contact you with further questions?
Readers may contact me at gshalhoub@tbosm.com or (734) 422-0010.
What is your hope for the book and its readers?
My hope is for readers to realize that God’s truth lies in understanding the Ten Commandments as embodied and flesh out by Christ and His commandments. All these things lead to the promise of eternal life. Children and parents must lead a godly life–a balanced life, with time to play and time to pray. And lastly, my hope is that the book will confront the reader with these questions:
- What replaces God in your life today?
- Are there images that you worship?
- What are the things we say to others that offend God and others?
- How can we honor our children to help them learn to honor us?
- What are the things that will kill a relationship in today’s world?
- How do we steal the will of others?
- What are the things that bring satisfaction to your daily life?
Father George Shalhoub has been the pastor of the Basilica of St. Mary in Livonia, Mich. for over 50 years. In gratitude to God, Fr. George has offered this book for Orthodox families in a desire to help them draw closer to each other and to God.
Orthodox Christian Parenting 