Watched this video (below) about a man who read to his daughter every night until she went to college (doing their last reading session in the stairwell of her new Rutgers dorm). Pretty inspiring. He was trying to answer the question “how do I keep her heart?” Worth a quick watch (~3 mins including commercial).
It made me think about my bedtime routine with my girls.
The Current plan includes a story (~10 mins of reading and/or extemporaneous “fairy tale”) , 3-5 songs (nursery rhymes, sunday school songs, and a verse of a hymn or so) and a prayer (fairly rote bedtime prayer of thankfulness for the day, and asking for tomorrow)
I remember the bedtime routine with me and my dad. As I recall, it included a story, recitation of Psalm 23, The Apostles Creed, and The Lord’s Prayer (all from memory). I have no idea how consistent it was, but it was pretty entrenched in my mind. It lasted through most of my early childhood. I remember it fondly. My dad did a great job. Taught me the foundations of the faith, and the importance of praying and memorizing scripture. Even though I “drifted” from that faith through High School and first year of college, it was a powerful tool the Holy Spirit used in my heart to call me back to him.
This video, and that memory makes me think I need to step up my game a bit in terms of intentionality. I have a few short years with these girls. What do I want to build? What memories do I want to leave them with? I have general answers here. Time to get specific.
June 6, 2011
Family