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