I love to read. Ever since I was a little girl and was reading Little House on the Prairie, books took me on adventures far from home. They were an escape mechanism for me in some ways when I felt trapped in life’s circumstances and when I just needed to take a break. There was always some journey or adventure an author had waiting for me. There were also the historical books that allowed me to get transported back into time with Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and the Pilgrims.

When I was in high school and college, I started to add how-to books to my reading. I learned how to better crochet, how to sew a blind stitch, how to garden, and how to cook different recipes. Yes, I actually have read cookbooks! And, no, they haven’t all turned out like the pictures!

As I had kids, there were parenting books I would read. Dr. Seuss came back into my life through my children, and we had almost weekly trips to the library. I wanted adventures for my kids, as well.

Lately, I’ve been reading heavier books…not the thick, heavy books, but the “this makes me think” type of books. I am not only stretching my imagination while going on journeys, but I’m stretching my brain to think differently by what I’m reading.

Why is reading important for you?

1. It can save you from mistakes. Did you know there are other people out there who have lived life and have made some mistakes? They have a story. I have saved myself a lot of heartache over the years by learning both from other people’s successes and failures. By reading someone else’s story, you store their story in your mind and will have that available should you encounter something similar in your life.
2. It can accelerate your growth. There is no way we can learn everything in life personally that we need to know. This is why when I was learning to sew, I not only asked others the best way to do stitches, but I had a book that showed step-by-step instructions. I allowed the book to be my guide so I didn’t have to start at ground zero. It allowed me to learn the stitch much more quickly and made learning other stitches easier due to a strong foundation.
3. It can stretch your mind. I know this will come as a shock, but not everyone thinks like you do! Sometimes we get so lost in our own worlds that we forget how to think outside of ourselves. This is when I like to get a good book from someone who has gone through something similar so I can see how they were able to succeed and how they processed life. I don’t always process things in the right way or right order because my focus is on me.
4. It can make you think of others. Seeing outside of myself gives better perspective. I don’t always agree with how someone solved a problem, but I now know how I don’t want to solve a problem! It also allows me to see things from their perspective.

Reading daily can change you. Not only reading your Bible daily, but reading about others and stories written by others.

Are you ready to stretch your brain? Time to get reading.

What book do you plan to read next?

© 2019 Susan M. Sims

Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/adamr 

Follow me on Twitter or Facebook.

Looking for a small group Bible study?

Look no further: Being Transparent: With Yourself, God, and Others with the Leader’s Discussion Guide!