Book.worm [n] : a person unusually devoted to reading and study : a person who prefers reading to just about any other activity
I never liked reading when I was young. In fact, I was the worst reader in first grade. So worst that my homeroom teacher then, gave a dismaying prophecy that I would never learn to read well and pass my English subjects with flying colors.
Raised in an environment of grown-ups with considerable generation gap, I ended up reading newspapers and Reader’s Digest. Other than my textbooks in schools, I never had books suitable for my age and comprehension level.
To prepare me for school, my eldest brother asked me to read my textbooks in advance. Persuading me that it would be of great benefit to know the lessons ahead of time before the subject is discussed in the class. My brother has influenced me greatly in this area of my academic literacy. He would tell me to read the book from cover to cover. Never start reading in the middle of the book and to read only with eyes and mouth closed (no finger-tracing every word.)
Sure enough, my reading comprehension increased about a hair-width. That’s progress for me!
Later in college, I save my school allowance to buy myself a book. I met a special person who gave me lots and I mean lots of books. I would say that that was the start of my love affair with books. From that moment on, a desire to acquire and read more books aflamed in my heart. My dream of having my own personal library came true just before my college graduation.
I told my family that if ever our house would caught on fire, I would save my books first before anything else.
When I finally got a job, I would allot a budget intended only for buying books. Little by little the bookshelf is getting filled. Most of my books were given to me as gifts, that’s why I treasure them so much. I told my family that if ever our house would caught on fire, I would save my books first before anything else.:-)
My poor ability to evaluate a book if it’s good or not limits and hinders me when I’m buying or simply choosing from a library. Unless someone more qualified recommends a good book to me. Sometimes I would read reviews about certain books before buying them but most of the times I would just ask my bookworm friends for recommendations and we would exchange books.
My brother introduced me to Max Lucado’s book “He Still Moves Stones.” I liked it. Later on, I bought several more of Max Lucado’s books and added them to my personal library.
Although I love to read, I don’t read just any books. I prefer to read books that would strengthen my mind and character and that would help make me a better person. I’ve put side novels or fictions for the peril it may cause me. As the saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out.” This statement from my favorite author change the way I choose books to read:
The readers of fiction are indulging an evil that destroys spirituality, eclipsing the beauty of the sacred page. It creates an unhealthy excitement, fevers the imagination, unfits the mind for usefulness, weans the soul from prayer, and disqualifies it for any spiritual exercise.
Messages to Young People, p.272.2
Books have changed my life forever. It helped me a lot during the times when I have no one to answer my questions about life, depressed or simply when I was bored or have no one to talk to. It feels good to have something to say in group discussions or in any conversation because you’re not totally clueless about what they’re talking about.
Of all the books that I’ve read…nothing, NOTHING can compare to the BIBLE! It’s not only a spirituall guide, but it sharpens the simple mind. Why and how? Because God’s word is spirit and life!
“…the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
John 6:63, KJ
On our first Sabbath, my husband was aksed to play the keyboard for the live broadcast of the church service, which they do one a month. There was a very good sermon about the soon coming of Christ.
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