Reading the Words

By Patty Wysong

“Now may the God,
of hope fill you with
all joy and peace in
believing, that you
may abound in hope
by the power of the
Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

y youngest child has decided it's time to read. Yesterday, he pulled out the reader all of our kids have started with and started working. Throughout the day he'd appear by my side, book in hand, for another go-round with it. His determination and persistence have gotten him much farther than I could've gotten him with much cajoling.

To say I'm pleased is an understatement! Our family has always been big into reading, and it's not unusual to see all our kids sprawled around the living room with their noses in books, so this event has been a cause for cheering for our entire family.

In an effort to read, my son would sound out the first word and then supply the word he thought should go next, regardless of what the written word was. If I allowed him to continue, he would've gladly gone on his merry way, making up a story of his own design and choosing. As I sat with him, I realized I do the same thing with God.

I'll carefully sound out the first word of His instructions, and then start supplying the words that I want to put there. If God were to just let me go on my merry way, the story of my life would turn out much differently than what He designs for my life, so God stops me and has me sound out each word that He's written so that I live the life He has for me.

While watching my son persistently work at reading, I noticed that his focus and attention easily wandered. His mouth would be making the the sound, and he'd draw the sound out because his eyes would be studying the snap on his jeans, the picture right below the words, nearby letters, and anything that caught his eye.

Just like I tap the word to draw my son's attention back to the task at hand, God taps me and draws my attention back to Him. It's only by focusing on Him that I can sound out the next word. There's no way I can even hope to get it right, unless I keep my eyes on Him.

When my son stumbled over the word he was sounding out, I would whisper a hint in his ear. “When there are two vowels in a short word, the first vowel says its long name and the second one is silent.” He'd be able to read the word and I'd praise him for doing such a good job. He knew he wasn't alone in his reading practice—not only was he snuggled up close to me, but I was cheering him on and helping when he needed help.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11 God doesn't ever leave us. He's always right with us, whispering hints, directions and encouragements into our hearts. He will never leave us, nor forsake us.

The first thing my son wanted to do after reading those first pages was to call Daddy and tell him, knowing Daddy would be pleased. Do I want to run straight to Jesus with my joy like that? Do I allow others to share my joy or allow them to see what God has taught me? Sharing your joy multiplies that joy; just as when my son met Daddy at the door, book in hand, their joy was multiplied by sharing it.