This post is dedicated to my sister... the most voracious reader and passionate learner I know!
We often hear about the importance of instilling a love of learning, but what does it really mean? Learning should be fun? Yes! Learning should be interesting? Yes! But in the scope of a person's life learning is so much more. Being dedicated to learning as an adult is critical in all areas of life to truly succeed. Like a person who exercises and builds stamina over time, the commitment to learning builds. We all have those obligatory items we have to read in school, but reading can be so much more. It is the doorway to discovering how wonderful our imaginations can be and, in adulthood, how words can transform a life through development or healing.
Looking around my home I see evidence of learning everywhere... Parenting books on my desk, leadership books on my husband's nightstand, the occasional text book on the coffee table. They serve as morsels of our leadership and love of learning to our children. As a result, there are picture books, Dr. Seuss, and the all-too-familiar Wimpy Kid books upstairs on various night tables. There are books, book shelves, and stacks of books everywhere and in every room. Are all these items scholarly - uh, no - but they are a testament of a family's passion for written words that will grow! This warms my heart like nothing else.
Do I always want to read? Well, yes.. I do, so my example to my children is how reading is second nature, almost like breathing. Just as important is my husband's actions in this area of our life as a family. He does not really like to read - but he has learned the value of it - and I am confident that his example will save my boys the hard lessons of developing a dedication to life-long learning that we so severely lack due to distractions such as gaming and television. There are far too many children with controllers in their hands for hours at a time. It may seem painful in the moment, most assuredly met with grumbles, but take the time to show your children about a love of learning. Read to them! Have the older ones read to everyone! Read Bible stories and capture their hearts!
I encourage you to instill a love of reading in your children early in life as it will most assuredly develop into a love of learning. It will serve them beyond measure as they grow into adulthood. It will set the stage for their successes in relationships, professions, and in their walk with the Lord. So the next time you want to flip through the channels, check your Facebook feed, or play a game on your phone, don't!! Pick up a book and discover how it can change your life - and the life of your children - forever.
We often hear about the importance of instilling a love of learning, but what does it really mean? Learning should be fun? Yes! Learning should be interesting? Yes! But in the scope of a person's life learning is so much more. Being dedicated to learning as an adult is critical in all areas of life to truly succeed. Like a person who exercises and builds stamina over time, the commitment to learning builds. We all have those obligatory items we have to read in school, but reading can be so much more. It is the doorway to discovering how wonderful our imaginations can be and, in adulthood, how words can transform a life through development or healing.
Looking around my home I see evidence of learning everywhere... Parenting books on my desk, leadership books on my husband's nightstand, the occasional text book on the coffee table. They serve as morsels of our leadership and love of learning to our children. As a result, there are picture books, Dr. Seuss, and the all-too-familiar Wimpy Kid books upstairs on various night tables. There are books, book shelves, and stacks of books everywhere and in every room. Are all these items scholarly - uh, no - but they are a testament of a family's passion for written words that will grow! This warms my heart like nothing else.
Do I always want to read? Well, yes.. I do, so my example to my children is how reading is second nature, almost like breathing. Just as important is my husband's actions in this area of our life as a family. He does not really like to read - but he has learned the value of it - and I am confident that his example will save my boys the hard lessons of developing a dedication to life-long learning that we so severely lack due to distractions such as gaming and television. There are far too many children with controllers in their hands for hours at a time. It may seem painful in the moment, most assuredly met with grumbles, but take the time to show your children about a love of learning. Read to them! Have the older ones read to everyone! Read Bible stories and capture their hearts!
I encourage you to instill a love of reading in your children early in life as it will most assuredly develop into a love of learning. It will serve them beyond measure as they grow into adulthood. It will set the stage for their successes in relationships, professions, and in their walk with the Lord. So the next time you want to flip through the channels, check your Facebook feed, or play a game on your phone, don't!! Pick up a book and discover how it can change your life - and the life of your children - forever.
