#4: The Best Things
Life isn’t perfect—but this one thing has been amazing.
Note: For our readers who aren’t interested in reading the Bible, this week’s resolution can easily be applied to any book you’ve been wanting to read (or any activity that’s been hard to find time to do).
There are lots of ways I want to improve myself to be the “best me ☺,” but one thing I’m happy to report has truly been fun and life-giving has been putting myself in the current of God’s Word.
Do you have a goal you write year after year in your New Year resolutions?
(Like “learn to do the splits”… Anyone else?)
I always had “read the Bible”, but something changed in me this past year to really want and to feel a need for time reading the Bible.
Note: For our readers who aren’t interested in reading the Bible, what’s another book you’d like to read (or re-read)?
The past 3 years have been eventful and busy with lots of transitions. I had my daughter in my fourth year of dental school. My husband and I were active and involved at our church, but participating and being focused in worship services became more difficult in the new season of motherhood. I also graduated soon after as our family moved and I started my first job.
I learned that though marriage, motherhood, and career are blessings, they still left me wondering,
Is this it?
My heart still had a longing that was unfilled.
At the end of 2023, as I prepared to have my son, I remembered the nights with my newborn daughter. I thought about how I sat in the dark silently breastfeeding my baby while Instagram reels and posts lit my face. It’s quite interesting how much power and influence Instagram has—it has quite literally modified (I would even say dictated) billions of people’s thoughts and lives, including mine, and...
I didn’t want that anymore.
I wanted to read the Bible.
I resolved to read the Bible instead of being influenced by things I wasn’t even looking for on the internet those many cumulative hours every night.
No more being swept away by the current of the world and its distractions.
I was ready to be in the current of God’s Word.
Now did I only read the Bible? No. With my second newborn, I did still check Instagram, and I also did things like watching absurdly long episodes of Korean dating shows. (Transit Love anyone?)
But! That was the start of acting on my renewed desire to recommit to spiritual disciplines and put myself in the current of God’s words.
And! Life isn’t perfect—but this one change has been amazing.
Do you have any habit you’ve put into action this past year that has been amazing?
INTERMISSION / Last week’s Postcard
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And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming…
Best me ☺: (Bible) Reading
Let’s talk specifics. For this season’s resolution, I’ve been wanting to read more of this book.
So for me, that meant:
Reading longer chunks at a time.
Reading when I wake up early and reading as soon as possible (instead of browsing on the phone).
Reading from my physical book whenever I can and underlining with my color pencils.
Devoting my “days of rest” to trying to squeeze in reading whenever I can.
Reading first before doing hobbies. Sometimes that means I don’t get to my hobbies.
I will say, sometimes I opened the book and got my pencils out—and as soon as I started to read, the baby cried. But the more powerful scene was this: as I fed my desire for this goal, findings ways to read and reading itself only became more natural and more fun! Life in this aspect has been a stark contrast to how things had been the past several years. Today I completed my 2024 goal “read the Bible in 1 year”, and I’ve been thinking about how I want to read next year. If I can do it, you can do it!
Won’t you join me? ☺
Finally, something
to close:
My daughter is very bright (if I do say so myself). I needed help with activities to keep her stimulated and happy on the days I’m home with her, so I ended up getting homeschooling material at the pre-k level for her. I’m not planning on following it strictly this year; really I just use it more as a suggestion for ideas and a great book list. But one of the brightest parts has been the memory verses, or memory quotes.
Two-year-olds are so clever and bright. They love repetition and really are brilliant at memorizing.
When we first started using the material, I didn’t have high expectations because it seemed like the level was too difficult for her and she wasn’t able to pay attention. But she surprised me. I thought she wasn’t listening to the quotes as I reviewed them, but as soon as I was about to stop for the day, she recited a chunk. After that it only became more fun for both of us. With silly motions we choose together, we practice these quotes full of deep values that are important to our family.
Whenever she hears something reminiscent of the quotes, her ears perk up, her mouth turns into a cute little “O", and her eyes shine as they look for mine. It was so adorable when she made that :o face during a sermon.
Now that we’ve memorized at least five of them, it’s sometimes hard to keep track of where each quote is from, but some days she’s even better than me at reciting the citation.
Some moments I may find myself starting to wondering whether I’m making a difference on the days I’m home with my kids. But these memory quotes have been a steady reminder that they are always watching and listening. The quotes bring me joy as I shape my children for the better.
As I spend time with my daughter memorizing these quotes together, this is one way I’m telling my daughter I love her—and it’s one way she’s telling me she hears me.
Today’s questions for readers:
Q: For our readers who aren’t interested in reading the Bible, what’s another book you’d like to read (or re-read)?
Q: What is your actionable reading goal to pilot for this week?
Q: Any reading plans you’re starting to think about for next year?
P.S. (My answer to the first question would be The Little Prince—I love that book!! Maybe more on that in another week…) Let me know your answers in the comments below!
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P.P.S. I’m so glad to have you as a reader! If you found today’s Letter thought-provoking and a good challenge, could you consider forwarding to a friend and talking about it with them? Let me know how it goes!