Make Time for a Good Book

Hey Momma,

Do you ever just take a few minutes and reflect on everything? Your children? Their growth and development? How you are ‘mothering’? The kind of wife you are? Friend you are? Neighbor you are? Daughter you are? Leader at work you are? All of it? Any of it?

Tonight, that’s me.

We’re finally home, with nothing on the calendar to do. We’ve been cooking and baking and running around all day. My oldest is on the mend, as she’s getting over being sick for the past few days. Candles are lit. The house is cleaned from top to bottom. And I don’t know about you, but my happy place is being in my sweatpants with no plans for the day, at home.

Days like these are my favorite days.

A few days ago, I shared several books with the girls we haven’t read yet and gave them a summary of what the books were about. The girls chose their top choice and we began reading. We’re studying angels, from a biblical lens, and it’s a pretty cool learning experience together. But as I was sifting through the various books and wondering if the girls are getting too old for this, I picked up a book that reminded me that, no, my girls aren’t too old for this (and neither are yours). In fact, the years we’ve been reading together has equipped us to continue to build on these rhythms.

I was picking up book after book the girls and I had read together over the years, and my heart was filled with joy because we’ve protected so may nights with no distractions, and just us, a good book, and our Heavenly Father. The time and conversations crashing into my thoughts overwhelmed me with gratefulness. Yet, at the same time, I experienced sadness, knowing the time to continue these rhythms with my girls won’t last forever and I sit and wonder if the girls still even want to spend this time together in a good book. I then picked up the book Kisses from Katie, A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption within the stack of all the stories. This book was written by Katie Davis Majors and my girls and I read it together while they were all in elementary school. Holding the book in my hands takes me to those nights I held it in my hand, turning page to page, and my girls at such a young age sharing a room and a story together. There’s something special about holding a book in your hand and sharing it with others. There’s something special about this book for us. It captured all of us. The people in the story felt familiar, the picture painted was crafted so vividly, that we all had a movie playing in our minds with how detailed the story was written.

I remember my girls asking over and over again, “Mom, can we read just one more chapter?”. I remember the palpable presence of the Holy Spirit sitting in the room with us and the heaviness and realness of His Spirit in that space with us. I recall tears dropping onto the pages and my girls falling asleep to the words of this story some nights, too. I remember the girls excitedly jumping to the page of the pictures to see if they matched the pictures built within their minds and I remember thanking the Lord that my girls continually get the opportunity to be blessed and learn more about who our God is through the such beautiful stories. This is one of my all-time favorite books that my girls and I read together. I vividly remember thanking the Lord for these nights I was able to share with Him and my girls.

Time is passing and the girls continue to grow up, and I’m reminded that there’s nothing more important than the time spent together and together with the Lord. I’m reminded that it’s not just about the book or the lessons in the book, it’s the time spent together. It’s the conversations. It’s dreaming big and hearing how God moves in big ways and small ways, and it’s being reminded that we, no matter how big or small, have a part of His plan, too. It’s putting stories of hope and encouragement in our pockets for tough days when we need to pull from His promises and remind ourselves that we have a miracle working God.

I’m winding down as the moon hangs high tonight with a grateful heart to be their mom and be part of His great plan. I’m grateful for this time with my girls, while I’m blessed to still have them all under one roof, and that they haven’t grown up completely yet. I’m thankful for His Word, which has the greatest stories of all time and the words He has inspired in others to share, too. My girls and I have read hundreds of books throughout the years. Our favorite place for about the first ten years of their lives was the local library. I pray they remember the time together. I pray they remember the words and images God pulled out just for each of them. I pray they continue to find value in the time away from this crazy world, and time connected with each other and Him, and perhaps a really good book.

I hope you remember that we serve a God who answers prayers and I hope you find some time for your girl, your Heavenly Father and a really good book.

Let’s turn our Eyes to Jesus because it’s all for His Glory.

In love,

Kassie Leigh

P.S.- My favorite part of reading this book was reading it together with my girls. However, we had a small group of girls who also read this book with their moms, too. At the end of the book, we came together to talk about it and create a small experience (and craft) to remember it, too! This is just a different way for girls to connect and only need one day on the calendar to align.

Also, if you’re looking for some amazing writing, check out the webpage of Katie Davis Majors. Her writings inspire more closeness to the Lord.