The earliest I remember of my learning to love reading was about 4-5 years of age. I have written in a former article about looking at my grandmother’s Bible. Though I couldn’t read, I did look at the pictures, and wanted to be able to read the Bible.
Read to your children all of the Bible stories. They love them, and will want you to read the stories over and over. Noah and the flood, Jonah and the whale, David and Goliath, etc. They will love that you take time to read, and teach them His Word. You won’t regret that special time with them every day, and you will build memories with them as they grow.
“By reading to your child you write on his or her heart. Moreover, you write what water and soap can’t wash away. Many things you do for your child may change with the shifting sands of time, but reading to him or her engraves on the heart a record that time changes not. Actually, the child becomes a book himself, known and read of others.” ~ Leroy Brownlow
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the Words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalms 1:2
The book I read most is God’s Word. Without anyone teaching me in early years, I knew it was important, and to this day, I am amazed I knew that. I had no training. Didn’t go to church except an Assembly of God that was close by. They didn’t teach me anything, but as a child I observed and listened to teaching contrary to the Bible.
“But in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Matthew 15:9
When I became acquainted with the church described in the Bible and had questions, I would ask the preacher. He would tell me where to find, in the Bible, the things I wanted to know. They had a few tracts I would read, but not that much information, and I wanted to know more than what they offered. On into my adult years, if I had a question, I would find a gospel preacher or elder to help me…..and I learned.
I read the Bible in its entirety twice, but was overlooking so many lessons I needed to learn. I then began studying His Word and subject matter that would interest me, and still to this day. I learn something new from His Word every time.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” II Timothy 2:15
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so” Acts 17:11
To this day, I study my Bible each day, and read for enjoyment also. I love the classics and have learned from them. As a side note. When I was in the 3rd grade, the principal came to me and told me they were moving me up to a 5th grade reading level. I loved that. The reading material was more challenging. One of the first words that I stumbled over was “cathedral.” I had pronounced it “cat thra doll.” I was quickly corrected. I thought it was a “pretty” word and had no idea what it meant. I do now. Little did I know I would one day find the Truth, and learn the meaning of that word, and refute false doctrine.
“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” I Timothy 4:13
“Live and learn, but more importantly, learn and live – that’s my motto. Let’s take the lessons in the right order: First, know yourself. Second, know what you ought to do. Third, know what is needed to make you do it.
All around us are contributory lessons to these three. There are teaching tongues in everybody: in the literate and illiterate, in the young and old, in friends and enemies. There are enlightening books in everything; in remembrance and forgetfulness, in happiness and sorrow, in harmony and discord, in thrift and waste, in trial and error, in victory and defeat. No question about the teachers. What about the students?” ~ Leroy Brownlow
Eileen Light