For many children and teens (and quite a few teachers) one of the greatest feelings is when the last bell rings to signal the start of summer vacation from school. As a kid, I couldn't wait until the last day of school. Summer vacation meant no more schedules to follow and no more homework every night to do. Now the fun would begin - bike riding, softball, kickball, Frisbee - you name it. Every day was a new adventure for us. One of my very favorite things to do in the summer was believe it or not was to sign up for the summer reading program at the library. That was where you could read any book you want and write down the title and the author and turn that form in towards the end of the summer. Then there would be a party for everyone who participated with lots of prizes!
I guess why I liked this so much was because I loved to read and enjoy the adventures of books (and I still do). I grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries. My all time favorite book was "The Trouble with Jenny's Ear". I used to read it every summer. It's about this girl named Jenny who had ESP. Jeff actually found the book for me and now I have my own copy.
Lately I have been reading a book called "Shaped by the Story" by Michael Novelli and was amazed by some of the statistics he cited: "80 percent of graduating seniors say they'll never again voluntarily read a book" or "A 2006 study shows that the time kids spend reading for fun declines sharply after age eight and continues to drop off through the teenage years."
I guess why I liked this so much was because I loved to read and enjoy the adventures of books (and I still do). I grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries. My all time favorite book was "The Trouble with Jenny's Ear". I used to read it every summer. It's about this girl named Jenny who had ESP. Jeff actually found the book for me and now I have my own copy.
Lately I have been reading a book called "Shaped by the Story" by Michael Novelli and was amazed by some of the statistics he cited: "80 percent of graduating seniors say they'll never again voluntarily read a book" or "A 2006 study shows that the time kids spend reading for fun declines sharply after age eight and continues to drop off through the teenage years."
Stories play an important role in my life. I love reading and listening to people tell their stories about their lives. Stories, according to Michael Novelli, can challenge the way we think and live, stir our hearts toward empathy and compassion, move and shape us and so much more. Jesus was one of the best-storytellers as He drew parallels to our lives through His stories.
So my challenge for you this summer as parents is to read and tell some of those Bible stories to your children. One of my very favorite Bible Story Books is "The Jesus Storybook Bible" by Sally Lloyd-Jones or "Read with Me Bible" published by Zonderkidz. If you have more resources to share, please post them on the blog.
Some questions to think about: What was your favorite story growing up? What "stories" do you see the people around you giving their lives to? How might stories reshape the way you teach and learn from the Bible?
