Your Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet

Acts 15:31 says "When they read it aloud, the people rejoiced at its encouragement."

Reading at our house is not fun. Dyslexia is doing its best to steal the joy that can come from sitting quietly and being transformed through the words of a book.  This struggle affects every area of our life. Having mixed up letters (or numbers) changes not just "reading". It makes a math problem a challenge, instructions become difficult, a recipe becomes something to decode. Most things that people consider normal and easy are made harder.

As I sit with her each night and listen to her try and try to read and to make sense of these jumbled up letters, I turn my head so she can't see my chin start to quiver and a tear fall.  I wipe the tear and give her an encouraging smile to keep going. Watching her work so hard and for it not to be getting easier makes this mother's heart ache.

So, when our family committed to do a Christmas Advent exercise that involved reading and writing scripture each day, I never dreamed this would be something she would be excited about.  I praise Him that I was wrong.  John and I had been doing the reading aloud and we each started a journal to write down the verses.  After a few days, she said, "Can I be the one to read the Bible?" I almost said No.  In the back of my mind thinking, "Oh this will be too hard, it will take too long....it is much easier for us to read it, these words are hard and some unfamiliar! I want this to be a special time, not a frustrating time!!" But, wanting to encourage her - I gave in.  I passed her the Bible and told her the verses...Isaiah 11:6-10...What came next was so moving that even five days later, as I write this, my page is marked with tears.

It was beautiful. It was confident. It flowed with ease. Her voice proudly reading His word. I had told her to stop at verse 10, but as she neared the end of that verse she just kept going.  I tried to interrupt - nope, she kept on.

I was amazed. We read simple and hard books and with each one we struggle. Yet, she was able to read the Word of The Lord with confidence. May I have the same hunger for His Word. May I be so confident that I keep reading far past the "required" portion. Lord, I do not question why my child faces this struggle. I believe it is part of your perfect plan. I praise You that of ALL the books that could come easily - that you have opened her eyes and her heart for Your word. Thank you for unscrambling the letters for her.  If she never loves another book - continue to give her a love for Your Word. Amen