Spanning
the;Tide—
The;Overlooked
Bridge;to;a
Creative;Ministry
www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
How;can;you;raise;a;writer? Does;your;child;truly;possess the;gift;of;a;wordsmith;;and,;if so,;how;can;you;navigate;the
murky;waters;of;determining;if;this;gift
is;for;ministry,;for;a;future;career;option,
or;a;hobby?;Seemingly;rough;waters;may
roar;ahead,;and;it;may;be;easy;to;believe
that;the;voyage;cannot;be;worth;the;ques-tions;from;well-meaning;friends;and;fam-ily;members;who;ask,;“How;can;Sandra
make;money;with;that?”;Understanding
God’s;gift;in;your;child;and;the;conse-quential;calling;for;his;or;her;life;will;pro-pel;them;on;their;way.;Having;a;creative
ministry;point;of;view;must;go;beyond
thinking;of;writing;as;a;mere;hobby;or
mode of self-expression. Writing is so
much;more!;Higher;than;a;viable;career
option,;more;important;than;a;profitable
use;of;spare;time,;written;communication
is;alive;and;able;to;speak;for;the;kingdom
of;God;and;for;the;benefit;of;others.
Jesus Christ touched untold millions by His words. We, the children
of;His;Word;and;love,;are;enabled;and
equipped;at;any;age;or;stage;in;life;to
reach;out;and;touch;all;types;of;people!
No;matter;where;you;are;on;the;writing
journey,;you;and;your;child;can;find;the
bridge;over;the;tides;of;uncertainty;to;a
creative;ministry.
In any journey, one must plot the
course;and;study;the;path;ahead;care-fully;and;early.;Sailors;and;adventurers;of
bygone;days;did;not;discover;new;lands
the;moment;they;set;sail.;First,;they;knew
their;harbor;and;then;sailed;out;a;little
further;each;day,;honing;new;skills.;The
same;practical;techniques;apply;to;writ-ing,;making;a;daily;story;time;crucial;in
any;young;writer’s;home;life.
Your;voice;filled;your;child’s;ears;be-
fore;they;entered;this;world,;and;their
creative;development;greatly;depends;on
your;reading;aloud;to;them.;Hearing;new
sounds;stimulates;positive;ideas;and;feel-
ings;about;words.;Who;can;resist;smiling
as;a;little;one;marches;about;proudly;re-
peating;a;word;they;just;acquired?;Older
children;can;experience;the;same;joy;as
they;read;with;you;and;learn;how;words
fit;together!;No;matter;the;size;of;your
family,;everyone;may;gather;around;in
the;living;room;for;family;story;time.
Little ones may continue to play, but
as;sounds;and;syntax;gently;wash;over
them,;they;will;soften;in;tone;and;vol-
ume;while;you;read.;Choosing;a;book
and;finding;the;time;to;read;may;seem
daunting,;but;a;modicum;of;effort;always
reaps;a;harvest;of;happy;families!
Take;a;jaunt;to;your;local;library;and
look;at;books;with;your;child.;You;will
see;patterns;develop;in;their;likes;and
dislikes,;what;kinds;of;material;captures
their;attention,;and;what;they;pass;by.;Sit
down;with;a;planner;and;select;possible
times;for;a;library;afternoon;or;evening.
By;Rachel Ann Rogish
Positive;interaction;from
you;as;the;parent;blows
a;fresh;wind;into;their
creative;sails!
