Good Summer Reading

In our family, summer vacation also means summer reading! I love that our city's library has a summer reading program to encourage our young readers. Some years the kids have earned gift certificates for ice cream cones and mini golf, and other years they have come home with little toys and free books. If your library doesn't have a program like this, consider doing one yourself. Make a fun chart to mark your child's progress as he/she finishes books. And when he/she reaches the goal, go celebrate as a family!

Now here's the hard part for you parents. You can't assume that all books are safe. In my search for books for my children to read, I have found that:

– just because the book is an award winner doesn't mean that it upholds God's teachings. Standards have changed, especially in the past 20 years.
– just because it is on a book list of recommended books doesn't mean that the book is one that you want your child reading. Be sure of the source of the list before you use it as a guide.
– just because everyone else's child is reading the book doesn't mean that your child should read it. Some "popular" books have protagonists who are rude and blur the line between right and wrong.

The best bet is to read the books yourself, which is what I am doing: slowly reading everything I can get my hands on, in hopes of finding books that I can pass on to my children. By reading the books first, I can be the judge of what my children are ready for. Another benefit is that I have things to discuss with my children as they are reading the same book (Do you like the book? What part is your favorite? How would you feel if you were this character?)

There are plenty of books out there that are fine (not scary, not full of rude characters, not showing children disrespecting parents, not portraying adults as stupid, no talk of sexual matters). Many books are funny, or cultural (great for discussion), or simply tell a good story. But if you are looking for books that reinforce Biblical teaching, below are the lists I started several years ago for my own children. The lists are still relatively short, but ever growing (as I continue reading). If you have favorite titles to share, please do!

Happy Summer Reading! 

Growing a Man

Growing a Lady

Camping, and Loving People

Every time I go camping, I come home feeling cleaner. Not physically cleaner (yesterday my feet looked as if they had been dusted with cinnamon), I mean spiritually cleaner. 

When I am close to nature, I feel closer to God. The mountains and trees speak to me of His majesty. The stars are like His fingerprints, the wind His breathe, the dirt His skin. Somehow, I am more patient, more gracious, and more kind when camping, even when daily tasks are more difficult. I am less distracted, more focused, and more aware of God's presence in my life. Camping trips always make me want to move to the mountains.

But then I remember a time in my life, when I was contemplating my post-college plans, and I almost decided to take a full-time job at a camp in the Santa Cruz mountains. This was a non-Christian camp, what some people call an 'outdoor school', and I would be living in the redwoods while working with 5th and 6th-graders from all over the area.

"What a great opportunity!" I told God. "Think of all the children I could love! And how I could shine your light! And they want my musical talents too!"

I tried again and again to convince God that this was the best move for me, but I knew that the answer was 'no'.

It wasn't until I was nearing graduation day that I understood why.

"You like to run away, Rita," God told me. "You would be taking this job not to shine My light, but to hide it. I want you to learn to love people as much as you love my creation."

He was right. I didn't like how people hurt me and disappointed me. I wanted to deal with people on my own terms. By living in the mountains, I would become a hermit, avoiding most people, and choosing to ignore the rest of the world. I would also be disobeying God's commandment, to love my neighbor as myself (because how can you love your neighbor if you don't have any?) There was much I needed to learn about true love.

And so I stayed in the suburbs and became a teacher and youth leader, learning over the years not to be fearful of people, but rather, how to love them as God loves them.

Now, many years later, I still feel a deeper connection with God when I am in His creation, but I finally understand this: People are His creation. In fact, God values people even more than the trees and the birds and the mountains, because He made people in His image and filled people with His breath. And yes, they will disappoint me. Yes, they will hurt me. But they are valuable to God. ALL of them. I only need to see God's majesty and beauty in each and every person.

To Lose a Baby

When I gave birth to my first child, I also gave birth to all my vulnerabilities. 

And now I have six children. A turtle without a shell has it better than me.

I take it back. A turtle could never love as deeply as I love my children. I am a different person because of my children– more kind, more sensitive, more humble. To be vulnerable is not a weakness. If I ever lost a child, I would not regret the pain. But I wonder how I would respond.

My friend's baby died today, a week and a half before the baby's due date. I cry for them. There are so many questions, but no answers. I think about MY baby's heart beating in me. I remember how I loved him, even before he was born. Before I met him, I already knew him. If it had been my baby, would my faith be shaken? Would my deep sorrow drive me to hate God, or cling to God? I would pray that I could see God's goodness in the situation and remain faithful.

If you had ever lost a baby, my heart cries for you too. But I pray that you cling to God, though none of it makes sense, though there are no answers, though you feel worse than a turtle without a shell. Keep loving your baby, and God can use that love to change you.