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Girl Meets God
by Melissa Mathews
Just like me, they long to be close to you. - sung by Karen Carpenter
As I passed Latisha's desk during silent reading time, I noticed she was reading a book from my classroom library.
"Wow, this is an old book," she whispered loudly as I leaned down to sign her paper. I noticed the check-out form in the front of the book, and my mind immediately rewound 26 years to Mrs. Reynolds' library at Lee Academy.
Those were the days checking out a book involved a little card that slipped into a pocket on the inside cover of the book. When you had chosen your book, the librarian would take out the card, you signed your name to it, and she put it in her little wooden box. Then she stamped the inside cover with a date so you would know when the book was due back at the library.
One of the small joys of going to the library was scanning down the card in a prospective book to see who had checked it out before you. There was this certain thrill in holding a book that had been read by your current crush. It was almost as good as holding his hand--at least to a sixth grader.
Then my mind went to my Bible. As I scanned down the imaginary check-out card in my Bible, I saw the names of Mel Gibson, Corrie Ten Boom, and Charles Wesley. I had never considered the history of reading a book read by so many people before me. Maybe George Washington didn't read the same copy I read most everyday, but he did read the same book as me. So has my mother, my Great Mamaw Shireman, and Martin Luther. Even Paul read the same words from the Old Testament that I read. And surely he reread the words that he himself wrote that are now a part of our New Testament.
Through generations and centuries and millennia, real people have been changed in real ways by reading the inspired Word of God. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
Then my mind came back to planet Inderkum High School.
"Yeah, Latisha. That's an old book."
Maybe you could take the time to read a really good, even older book this Christmas Season.
Scott and I have been married 22 years and currently live in Northern California where we are beginning year five as church planters. I also teach 12th grade English and love it.
I would love to hear from you. Email me anytime at melissa.g.mathews@gmail.com
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