READ ME A STORY

Sheela delighted her hostess’ three children as she read stories before their bedtime. But 8-year-old Sally’s honest, yet sad response surprised her: ‘ Mummy never reads to us. She is too busy going to meetings.’

The Lord Jesus Christ regularly communicated through stories. People listened with rapt attention as He explained deep truths for enquiring minds with simple illustrations.

Jesus spoke of the Good Samaritan, who helped the man wounded by robbers. While the Prodigal Son squandered his money and fed pigs, he repented and returned to his waiting, loving father.

The account of the lost sheep continues a favourite with children, while the story of the Sower appeals to the farmer and his family. The effect of the good seed affects us all. And to tell of the converted tree-climber, Zacchaeus, fascinates and challenges.

Children enjoy snuggling in to a father, mother or grand-parent as they read, especially with sympathetic actions, vocal intrigue, and sound effects, as in the story of the lost sheep, of the roaring wind or splatter of rain. Children love the Good Shepherd who returned the wandering lamb to the fold, and its mother’s welcome Baa.

I listened amazed as a five-year-old recalled the story of Jonah, and she added, ‘ Wasn’t Jonah naughty to be angry when the worm ate the melon? He knew God said He would save Nineveh, so Jonah shouldn’t have been angry, Gran’. I asked Tess, ‘ How can you remember all that detail?’ ‘ Dad and Mum read it to me lots of times,’ she gently answered.

A psychologist explained that when both parents spend time to read stories they greatly improve a child’s feeling of security. Sitting a child before a TV programme may save mother’s time and energy. However, a child's life patterns and values take root in precious, personal occasions and recalled in adulthood.

Jan phoned to tell about 12-month-old Sally. ‘ She toddles around my legs and pulls at my skirt, and I cannot get my work done.’ ‘ Have you thought of taking Sally on your knee, giving her a cuddle, and reading a story? ’ ‘ But she is only one year old.’ ‘Fine, and that is a good time to read stories.’ ‘ But she won’t understand.’ I reminded her. ‘ Jesus took the young children on His knee, while others listened with their parents.’ ‘ Stories are very important, Jan, and while you show Sally a simple book, and talk about the pictures, you introduce her to language. That is why we call language our ‘ mother tongue ’.

A week later I met Jan. ‘ You would not believe the difference. Sally is less clingy and so happy to play on her own after our story times.’ I also noticed the toddler's language development as she ‘talked’ back to me with her baby inflections.

Look for challenging slants for older children. I recall reading one chapter a night of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, journalling the black slaves in America who worked on cotton plantations. Uncle Tom prayed for the return of his family from distant plantations. The final chapter tells how Uncle Tom died on the day prior to the return of his beloved wife and children. Our girls still talk of that night, ‘ Remember when we all cried when Uncle Tom died?’ Memories continue important and precious.

After his day’s medical consulting, my husband always read to our children before he enjoyed his evening meal. The family humorously recalls how Dad sometimes fell asleep while reading to them after a busy day.

Colin Thiele, highly-respected and much-loved Principal of the South Australian Teachers’ College, communicates superbly via his 85 wholesome books. Libraries contain his excellent writings like Storm Boy, Blue Fin, Magpie Island, Sun on the Stubble, Jodie, etc.

Encourage teenagers and adults to read his fascinating novel, the Seed’s Inheritance. The book is based on the German migrants who settled in the Barossa Valley of South Australia after suffering religious persecution in their homeland. I enjoyed this book sufficiently to buy copies for our six children, as it mirrors the migration of my forebears.

When children prefer to read alone, encourage them to express their understanding of a current book. Foster their descriptive abilities for creative conversational confidence, which is sadly lacking today. Use birthdays and Christmas as occasions for book gifts. Our family accumulated an interesting library , and now, when I find books tucked away in cupboards, someone is sure to say, ‘ Mum, please don’t give that away . I’d love it for Simon - or Tess – or Peter, or Joanne or Dan.’ So the grandchildren gain. When you take time to bless a child, you enrich your own life.

Follow the greatest Story-teller, Jesus Christ.