| This is a subject near and dear to my heart only | | | | questions about journaling. One child asked me what |
| because I am a dad who is hopelessly crazy about his | | | | he should write, while another wanted to know how I |
| children. Yes, I admit it, I admit it, I'm a doting dad! I can't | | | | got started. I enjoyed telling them about the importance |
| help myself. I have four children each with different | | | | of cultivating their thoughts even on simple things about |
| personalities (surprise, surprise) and only one of them | | | | which children think. One child thought she would write |
| really doesn't care much for writing. It seems that | | | | about how she felt about her cat dying and wanted to |
| whenever I was writing in my journal one or all of my | | | | know how to start. So I gave her some lines to |
| children were hanging around. My oldest daughter, | | | | consider starting the process of reflection on how she |
| Sandra, used to come into my study and watch me | | | | felt. All it took was a line, "My cat died and I feel just |
| either do research or writing of some kind. I was in | | | | awful about it. I miss her very much." She sat at her |
| graduate school studying for my PhD, and my children | | | | desk and by the time class ended, she had more than |
| would often come and ask me about what I was | | | | a page filled. It's like priming a pump. Once primed, the |
| reading or writing. Sandra always seemed to be | | | | water flows. I wanted the children to understand that |
| fascinated with academic things, but particularly reading | | | | they don't have to wait to be flawless articulators and |
| and writing. She is currently attending Central Michigan | | | | writers to get started. Mastering the language and |
| University with the hopes of one day getting her PhD | | | | learning to be articulate come with time. I was not able, |
| in Literature. She loves to write, and I am overwhelmed | | | | for obvious reasons, to address spiritual issues in |
| by having been able to contribute to her love for the | | | | journaling, but the discussion was fun and I know of at |
| written word. | | | | least three kids who have kept to their journals all |
| She wrote me a letter from college a couple of | | | | summer long. In an age of video games, cable T.V. and |
| weeks ago and had this to say. "I just wanted to drop | | | | computers, it's a wonderful thing to see children |
| you a note to thank you for all that you've done for | | | | develop a love for writing and reading. That means it is |
| me throughout the years. You have taught me a great | | | | possible to win the battle against the media age in |
| deal that I am so grateful for. I credit my love for the | | | | which we live. I have noticed that if I sit and waste any |
| written word to your influence and to God. You have | | | | time with television or computers, my two youngest |
| helped instill in me a rare quality of true passion for the | | | | children will want to do the same. On the hand, when I |
| value of the intellect. I'll be praying for you and thinking | | | | am writing or reading they follow. I was writing a letter |
| of you, Love, Sandra Joy" This comes after more than | | | | the other day when my youngest daughter, Vonnie, |
| two years of virtually no communication with her. We | | | | came over and sat on my lap and asked, "Who are |
| had a falling out two years ago, that has since been | | | | you writing to?" I told her, and within a minute or two I |
| redeemed and healed. How grateful I am. | | | | noticed she went over to her little art table and started |
| Search Engine Marketing Specialist | | | | writing a little story book with pictures she had drawn. I |
| Since 1995 SEO/SEM tools, training, and professional | | | | enjoyed watching as she worked away at it. |
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| affordable rates. | | | | not always like that with my children. Sometimes I stop |
| This all boils down to teaching by example, does it not? | | | | and ask myself just where I've dropped the ball with |
| Children will typically imitate their parents, and this is the | | | | them. The only redemption is being consistent with |
| most important thing to remember when attempting to | | | | exercising our love for journaling in the presence of our |
| pass things on. I have always believed that writing | | | | children. Generally, they will love what we love, value |
| (particularly journaling) clarifies our hearts and souls. It is | | | | what we value, and imitate us when we're not looking. |
| a way of bringing out those inner thoughts and feelings | | | | Now that is a sobering thought don't you think? I get a |
| that help make us what we are. What better way to | | | | great deal of inspiration and wisdom from the Bible |
| sharpen the mind and purify the soul than to dialog with | | | | (perhaps some of you do as well) and I have always |
| yourself about your life and where it is going, what | | | | believed that the following verse from Proverbs holds |
| you've learned and wisdom gained? All of this to say, | | | | true. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and |
| what better gift to pass onto our children (or any | | | | when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs |
| children in your life) than gifts that will help them | | | | 22:6). Many people refer to this only from a spiritual or |
| develop great inner qualities of mind and spirit? All the | | | | theological standpoint, but I believe it applies to any kind |
| money in the world could never buy the gift we can | | | | of values we hope to pass on to our children. We |
| give to children in the form of love for the written | | | | have a wonderful opportunity to model to children who |
| word. | | | | are productive, thinking, and value driven individuals. We |
| I had the chance to pass journals out to my son | | | | need to encourage one another to stay the course |
| Weston's class on the last day of school this year. | | | | and in the end we can participate in a more |
| The kids were thrilled and asked me many good | | | | redemptive world. It all starts with us. |