Have you heard the story about...?

Families are funny and the Sallee family is funny. I don't mean funny in the sense of humorous, laugh out loud - funny. I mean funny as in peculiar, particular, and unique from one another in unexpected ways. My wife, Carol, brings certain strengths to our family that I don’t have (cleanliness, organization, administrative skills, etc. – the list is long). I have strengths that my wife doesn’t have (electronic expertise, computer skills, and big, ugly bug smashing skills, - the list is not nearly as long). But there is a strength that Carol brings to our family for which I am very thankful! Carol introduced to our family a LOVE OF READING.

All of my kids are good readers, however, some enjoy reading more than others. What makes the difference in between those who are good readers and those who love to read? How can we train our kids to love to read? Is our electronic culture causing us to want to read less? How is blogging, microblogging (Twitter), and social media (Facebook) changing our reading culture?

Tony Reinke, Christian communicator, blogger, and the author of Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books.

Training children to love reading can be tough. Okay, really tough. A host of visual entertainment competes for our children’s attention. Things like video games, which are not necessarily bad in themselves, can spill over boundaries and erode a child’s love of reading. When visual entertainment choices threaten a love for books and imaginative storytelling in a young child’s life, parents should be concerned. Parents need wisdom here, wisdom suited to the strengths and weaknesses of each child.

Read the whole article (which includes a three-minute video with Sally Lloyd Jones)

NBFamilies.info will be challenging parents to intentionally engage their kids in weekly Faith Talks. Parents of younger kids will have the opportunity to introduce their children to many good books. Some parent, perhaps not as familiar with the bible stories as they would like, would prefer to read bible stories to their kids. I have many fond memories of reading and telling stories to my children before they went to bed. The stories I told and the books that I read were fun and exciting but may have not have had any spiritual content. I may have missed many wonderful opportunities to have a faith conversation.

I am looking forward to hearing the stories NBFamilies’ parents are telling about memories they are creating through intentional Faith Talks.

Reading is important because story is important. And story is important because so much of parenting is storytelling.

• Parents are called to the glorious task of narrating God’s redemptive drama to their kids,
• Parents are called to show their kids that they are participating in God’s story,
• Parents and kids are participating in God’s story, together, right now.

When will you create a memory by telling the story that describes God’s power and goodness?