Did you know this week we celebrated National Book Lovers Day? I am a book lover and I love reading. Something very special happens when we are captivated by a great novel. We become immersed in a story where our imagination sees a world without limits or bounds. It is so very different from watching a movie or TV show where are held to the vision of a director.
I credit my mom for my love of reading. As a child she would read to my siblings and I. As I grew older I recall evenings, as everyone was winding down, my mom would curl up with a book and dive in. All the troubles of the day just slipped away as she became captivated with her story.
I did not appreciate literature when I was in school as much as I do now. Do you remember the 4 conflicts of any literary novel?
- Man vs. Man
- Man vs. Nature
- Man vs. Society
- Man vs. Self
I haven’t been in school in over a decade and I just recently learned that Man vs. Technology was added as a 5th. I propose a 6th, Man vs. Food.
All joking aside, I am eagerly waiting for the days where I can read with my children the great American novels and discuss them at the dinner table. To be able to share the great stories of the Bible – David & Goliath, Daniel and the Lions Den, Noah and the Ark, and Jesus; and to be able to share stories like the Great Gatsby or Catcher and the Rye will bring so much joy to my heart. I cannot wait to discuss stories of victory, loss, love, defeat, deception, disappointment, poetry and triumph – All the complexities of our sinful human nature.
Books & Education:
I hope to impart the same love of books and reading to my children. As I was thinking about these things my mind jumped to literacy in America. A study was published showing that books in the home are just as important as a parent’s level of eduction in determining the child’s education level.
WOW.
I am slowly working on building my children’s library but what about the parents who are striving to make ends meet. How can we help the children in our circle of influence and beyond? How can we make a small impact into a child’s future?
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
– Dr. Seuss
How Can We Help – A Call to Action:
It is not enough to hope for a better future for our children and all children. We must take action. I want to challenge you to help. What can we do to help those children in our circle of influence and beyond? Would you consider …
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Give books as gifts
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Replace birthday card(s) with books
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Would you be willing to inquire and make sure that the children in your circle of influence have books at home that they can read?
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Do you have books that your children no longer read? Would you consider donating them to a school in a disadvantaged area or a church?
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Would you be willing to take a few of your children’s friends to the library some time?
It is within our power to help children have an opportunity for a brighter future in our communities. Will you be willing to take the challenge?
Resources:
If you are looking to donate books and are not aware of churches or local schools, you can always go to a Salvation Army or Goodwill Center. There is also a site called Books for Kids which has a wonderful mission to get books into the hands of disadvantaged children.
If you are looking to find good quality children’s books and you’ve exhausted your local bookstore then I would like to suggest a site I recently discovered, called Usborne Books. They have beautiful books with great topics for all ages (for children). I also love that they will replace damaged books for a fraction of the original cost which is helpful in our home (my son’s middle name should be destroyer … notice the drool and the binding of the book 😳).
I hope that you feel challenged to invest in some books for the children in your life.
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
― C.S. Lewis
Always,
Misty
It is Well With Her Soul 