Reading: Stress Relief in Troubled Times

   This week I listened to an interview with Rea Berg, the founder of Beautiful Feet Books, which promotes learning history through reading. She discussed that when readers relate to a character, even fictional, life lessons are impressed upon us. In the interview Mrs. Berg said, “That’s the beauty and the power of story...when we’re reading those kinds of stories it doesn’t matter what we’re going through, it can speak to a deep place in our heart.” This may sound surprising, but consider for yourself, when you read To Kill a Mockingbird, are you inspired by Atticus Finch’s unflappable ability to handle injustice with poise? Do you or your daughters admire Anne from Anne of Green Gables for her imagination and adventurous spirit?  Do Opal’s experiences in Because of Winn Dixie remind you that everyone endures hardship and needs a friend? 

   As Christians, we’re not of this world, but we are in it, and this world immerses us with challenges. Daily, we make decisions that contribute to our real-life characters and the legacies we build. “Yes” and “no” are such important words. “Are you going to the party?” “Can you work tomorrow?” “Do you want to try this?” It’s as simple and as difficult as “yes” or “no.” The answers to these questions can qu ...

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