Gratitude for Books and Reading

You are either reading this post, or someone else is reading it to you. Have you considered what a gift and tremendous help it is to be able to read?? Through written words, people can express thoughts, tell stories, pass down history, keep records, share ideas, entertain, and remember things. Most of us have been reading since we were only five or six years old, so it makes sense that we might take this gift for granted. But it is a gift that we use every single day, without even thinking about it.

As a writer, I have a particular fondness for books. Though my personal library is heavy on the non-fiction side, I do appreciate a good fiction story. There is something nice about getting lost in a made-up story and getting to see it through from beginning to end. Through books, we get to know characters, visit different places around the world, have new experiences, see things from other people’s perspectives, and even visit other time periods. How fascinating! And all because we know how to read.

If we can read, then we can learn. And that learning can last a lifetime. Parents, let’s make sure we are encouraging our kids to use this great gift. Make books easily accessible in your home. Keep some books in the car and in backpacks when you go places. Take the family to the library once or twice a month and just browse. Give your kids gift cards to a local bookstore (but require that they spend it on actual books). Let them see YOU reading something besides your phone.

Pay special attention to how many times you and your family utilize the gift of reading words this week. See if you can even keep track! And express gratitude for this incredible gift we possess.