| This is a subject near and dear to my | | | | This all boils down to teaching by |
| heart only because I am a dad who is | | | | example, does it not? Children will |
| hopelessly crazy about his children. | | | | typically imitate their parents, and |
| Yes, I admit it, I admit it, I'm a | | | | this is the most important thing to |
| doting dad! I can't help myself. I have | | | | remember when attempting to pass things |
| four children each with different | | | | on. I have always believed that writing |
| personalities (surprise, surprise) and | | | | (particularly journaling) clarifies our |
| only one of them really doesn't care | | | | hearts and souls. It is a way of |
| much for writing. It seems that whenever | | | | bringing out those inner thoughts and |
| I was writing in my journal one or all | | | | feelings that help make us what we are. |
| of my children were hanging around. My | | | | What better way to sharpen the mind and |
| oldest daughter, Sandra, used to come | | | | purify the soul than to dialog with |
| into my study and watch me either do | | | | yourself about your life and where it is |
| research or writing of some kind. I was | | | | going, what you've learned and wisdom |
| in graduate school studying for my PhD, | | | | gained? All of this to say, what better |
| and my children would often come and ask | | | | gift to pass onto our children (or any |
| me about what I was reading or writing. | | | | children in your life) than gifts that |
| Sandra always seemed to be fascinated | | | | will help them develop great inner |
| with academic things, but particularly | | | | qualities of mind and spirit? All the |
| reading and writing. She is currently | | | | money in the world could never buy the |
| attending Central Michigan University | | | | gift we can give to children in the form |
| with the hopes of one day getting her | | | | of love for the written word.I had the |
| PhD in Literature. She loves to write, | | | | chance to pass journals out to my son |
| and I am overwhelmed by having been able | | | | Weston's class on the last day of school |
| to contribute to her love for the | | | | this year. The kids were thrilled and |
| written word. She wrote me a letter from | | | | asked me many good questions about |
| college a couple of weeks ago and had | | | | journaling. One child asked me what he |
| this to say. "I just wanted to drop you | | | | should write, while another wanted to |
| a note to thank you for all that you've | | | | know how I got started. I enjoyed |
| done for me throughout the years. You | | | | telling them about the importance of |
| have taught me a great deal that I am so | | | | cultivating their thoughts even on |
| grateful for. I credit my love for the | | | | simple things about which children |
| written word to your influence and to | | | | think. One child thought she would write |
| God. You have helped instill in me a | | | | about how she felt about her cat dying |
| rare quality of true passion for the | | | | and wanted to know how to start. So I |
| value of the intellect. I'll be praying | | | | gave her some lines to consider starting |
| for you and thinking of you, Love, | | | | the process of reflection on how she |
| Sandra Joy" This comes after more than | | | | felt. All it took was a line, "My cat |
| two years of virtually no communication | | | | died and I feel just awful about it. I |
| with her. We had a falling out two years | | | | miss her very much." She sat at her desk |
| ago, that has since been redeemed and | | | | and by the time class ended, she had |
| healed. How grateful I am. | | | | more than a page filled. |