The Ability to Read

I've talked a lot about reading in some of my grateful posts.  Mostly my efforts to read DON QUIXOTE.  Which I'm thankfully only about 150 pages away from being finished! So I can then move on to my next book, which is waiting for me to pick it up at the library:  The Book Thief.

Every morning, during Baby Girl's first bottle, I read a chapter or two out loud to her (and for me) from The Book of Mormon.

I read tons of facebook posts daily (sometimes hourly...).

I read recipes (even if most of the recipes I generally try also have a picture attached).

I read cereal boxes -- or anything else that happens to be sitting around while I'm sitting at the table eating breakfast.

The point is, I read.  And I love it.

But I often take it for granted that I can.  

For as long as I can remember (though I know it hasn't always been true), I have been able to read.  And because it is so commonplace to me, because I can't remember a time when I couldn't, I tend to forget that there are those in this world who are not born into circumstances which allow them the privilege of learning how to read.  

But in those rare moments (which hopefully will be less rare in the future) when I recognize this blessing I have been given, it occurs to me what a tragedy it would be if I couldn't read.

I find joy in being sucked into a good book.  It is an escape for me (which I is why I mostly only like the ones with happy endings).  I find knowledge as I delve into non-fiction books on topics that interest me.  Sometimes I laugh.  Sometimes I cry.  Sometimes I can't wait to get through whatever it is I'm reading.

What would it be like not to have this ability?  I truly cannot imagine.  Reading is something I love.  True, I generally prefer to read for pleasure.  But I am grateful I could read for my education.  

I hope to pass on my love of reading to my little girl and any other children we (hopefully) have one day.  And so I am grateful I can hold her on my lap and read to her, to instill in her a love of reading and an understanding of what a blessing and privilege it is to read (even if right now, she'd rather try to eat them than read them).  Because it is true what Emilie Buchwald said:  "Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

I am grateful I was born in a time and place in which attending school was a given and learning to read was a right.  Grateful for teachers who taught me and parents who encouraged me.  Grateful for parents who read to me, but also read for themselves and allowed us to see their love of reading.  The ability to read truly is a gift...  A gift that has opened up the world to me.

What are you grateful for today?