Have you ever wondered whether any of it is sinking in? The bedtime prayers, the homework help, the hundred small ways you point your kids toward Jesus on ordinary days?
Every once in a while, you meet someone who answers that question for you. For me, that was Sydney Ann Johnson, an author, poet, and advocate from Long Island, New York.
Sydney’s work spans poetry collections, cultural articles on faith and mental health in the Black community, and a feature in Chicken Soup for the Soul: I’m Speaking Now. Her debut children’s book, God, The Great I AM (Our Daily Bread), helps children from all backgrounds understand who God is and who they are because of Him.
But long before any of that, Sydney was a little girl whose creativity was encouraged at home. Her mom listened to sermons on her daily walks, then came home eager to share what God was teaching her. And years later, when Sydney faced depression and uncertainty after college, her mother reminded her that God rarely shows us the whole journey at once. He gives us enough light for the next step.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How a mother’s everyday faith shaped Sydney’s life and calling
- Helping children build an identity rooted in Christ, not achievement or comparison
- Why representation in Christian children’s books matters, including a sweet story about a little boy who loved her natural hair
- How weary moms can refill their own cups with God, even in small moments
If you’ve ever wondered whether your faithful, ordinary efforts are making a difference, this conversation is for you. The faith you model today may become the legacy your children carry tomorrow.
So keep praying. Keep speaking life. Keep pointing your children to Jesus.
🎧 [Listen to the full episode below →]
🔗 Learn more about Sydney Ann’s books at sydneyannjohnson.com
