The reward of reading
“The more that you read, the more things you’ll know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” This cute quote, from Dr. Seuss, is not only catchy, but has some amazing truths. Reading helps us become smarter, is entertaining, and can change our life. I believe reading should be an important part of everyone’s life.
Sylvia Winje
Reading helps us become smarter and learn more. President Abraham Lincoln did not have a good early education. When he was young, he read a ton of law books and ended up becoming a lawyer, without attending college.
According to Anne Cunningham and Keith Stanovich, “Even a child with limited reading and comprehensive skills will build vocabulary and cognitive structures through reading.” When we read, we are learning new ideas, becoming smarter, and increasing our vocabulary.
Reading is entertaining. Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved to read. Most often, you cannot find me without a book or Kindle in my purse! Books take us to new worlds and allow us to meet new characters, who may be in situations similar to us. Books can grip our emotions, causing us to giggle, cry or explode in anger. When I read “Where the Red Fern Grows” a few years ago, I enjoyed it immensely. I sobbed my eyes out at the end. Reading is a pleasurable pastime which can make you lose track of time.
Reading can change our life. Hudson Taylor read a gospel tract as a teenager, and later became one of the most influential missionaries in his time, bringing thousands of Chinese people to Christ. This all happened because he READ something.
Many authors slip subtle, yet life-changing, messages into the books they write. For example, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote the book, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” at the time of the Civil War. Thousands of people throughout the world read the book and changed their views regarding slavery. In the same way, books can impact us only if we read them. Books are extremely powerful and can change us in ways we never thought were possible.
If you want to become smarter, have an enjoyable pastime, and possibly change your life, then READ, READ, READ.
Sylvie Winje is a sophomore homeschooled student. She enjoys playing piano at nursing homes, writing, reading, drawing, storytelling and volunteering at church. Sylvie is the daughter of Paul and Audrey Winje, who are members of Cass County Electric Cooperative.
