Last night my boy stayed up until "midnight." And I am so delighted!
There would be no delight if these words described my littlest boy, but when Asher tells me he stayed up until "midnight" reading, that thrills me and stirs something giddy inside.
Still a boy at six and a half, but Asher regularly reminds me of his progress to maturity. Now granted the Captain Underpants series is hardly the highest in literature nor what my idealistic imagination saw him reading for his first solo books, but I couldn't be happier that he is falling in love with reading.
I might be slightly biased because of my own passion for reading and writing and everything related, but this joy of seeing him discover the worlds available inside a book could be my best Christmas gift (although I am open to challengers!). From the time of his conception, I read to my boy hoping he would become a ravenous reader. I don't know if he is quite there yet, but the way his toothless smile lit up his face when he described his late night adventures has me believing he might just be hooked.
Earlier this fall, I watched Asher discover a love of swinging. Maybe he is getting a bit old to delight so openly in the freedom of soaring into the sky, but I simply couldn't get enough of watching him swing as high as he possibly could from my kitchen window. Even in the dark of night, he would ask to go swing. I know he felt like he was touching the stars and that feeling of being able to touch the stars is what I want him to always know.
Although I remember loving to read and constantly devouring books, I can't remember my own discovery of reading to myself. This discovering of new good things that we love spreads out further and further as we get older. But I am realizing that possibly even greater than discovering for myself is watching the wonder and excitement in my kids as they discover things they love. Daily I lead them to places I want them to love on their own and when it clicks, when they show that they get it, my job is a success.
This opportunity to witness when they "get it" is possibly one of the best side benefits of parenting.
I wonder if this is a piece of how God receives the glory He deserves. Watching His children discover what He is leading them to must bring joy to Him. Does He feel as giddy as I do when we finally "get it," when we stop and wonder at how perfectly His plan fits together? If this discovery does bring Him honor then I pray for great discoveries into more and more of His character and the hope He promises to us -- especially this Christmas season.
There would be no delight if these words described my littlest boy, but when Asher tells me he stayed up until "midnight" reading, that thrills me and stirs something giddy inside.
Still a boy at six and a half, but Asher regularly reminds me of his progress to maturity. Now granted the Captain Underpants series is hardly the highest in literature nor what my idealistic imagination saw him reading for his first solo books, but I couldn't be happier that he is falling in love with reading.
I might be slightly biased because of my own passion for reading and writing and everything related, but this joy of seeing him discover the worlds available inside a book could be my best Christmas gift (although I am open to challengers!). From the time of his conception, I read to my boy hoping he would become a ravenous reader. I don't know if he is quite there yet, but the way his toothless smile lit up his face when he described his late night adventures has me believing he might just be hooked.
Earlier this fall, I watched Asher discover a love of swinging. Maybe he is getting a bit old to delight so openly in the freedom of soaring into the sky, but I simply couldn't get enough of watching him swing as high as he possibly could from my kitchen window. Even in the dark of night, he would ask to go swing. I know he felt like he was touching the stars and that feeling of being able to touch the stars is what I want him to always know.
Although I remember loving to read and constantly devouring books, I can't remember my own discovery of reading to myself. This discovering of new good things that we love spreads out further and further as we get older. But I am realizing that possibly even greater than discovering for myself is watching the wonder and excitement in my kids as they discover things they love. Daily I lead them to places I want them to love on their own and when it clicks, when they show that they get it, my job is a success.
This opportunity to witness when they "get it" is possibly one of the best side benefits of parenting.
I wonder if this is a piece of how God receives the glory He deserves. Watching His children discover what He is leading them to must bring joy to Him. Does He feel as giddy as I do when we finally "get it," when we stop and wonder at how perfectly His plan fits together? If this discovery does bring Him honor then I pray for great discoveries into more and more of His character and the hope He promises to us -- especially this Christmas season.
1 comment:
What a touching post...as usual :)
That is wonderful that Asher is enjoying reading on his own! It is no surprise to me though. I strongly believe your influence in reading to him has likely created a predisposition in him to enjoy the same hobby. I think he enjoyed it from toddlerhood too--I remember him wanting to read for hours with me way back when, when I used to watch him. I'd put one book down after finishing it and he'd already have another one in his little hands for us to read together. He's a precious boy!
Oh, and Asher is not too old to swing! :)
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