Meme's Bragging Post

I have six wonderful grandchildren whom I adore. [Let's hear it for grandmas, folks!] Each one has been gifted by God and, I must say, their parents are doing a terrific job of following the Scriptural principle of finding their gifts, their "bent" or "way" as it says in Proverbs 22:6, and cultivating those gifts.

"Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

I've heard zillions of sermons and lessons on this verse espousing about half a zillion interpretations.  Though I am neither a scholar of the Bible or the Hebrew language I think the one that interprets the words "the way" as the youth's bent or giftedness is most accurate. It is certainly most meaningful to me.

Anyway, it makes growing up so much less painful for children AND their parents when parents are good at finding their children's talents and gifts, and cultivating those gifts rather than trying to force, coerce or bribe children into activities they don't enjoy.

So, I want to encourage one of my grandchildren by highlighting one of her poems here. Olivia is finishing the fifth grade next week. She tells me she wants to be a chef, a photographer and a writer when she grows up. Right now she's working on learning all she can about all three professions. Each time we're together we spend time in the kitchen practicing the culinary arts. She takes photos of her friends and family and pets frequently. And, she not only practices the writing skills she's learning at school, but she gladly shares her works with others.

For my birthday this year Olivia and her brother and sister made a book of original Olivia poems for me. The three of them illustrated those poems beautifully, word processed and printed the book, and bound it elegantly. I'm as proud as punch to have my very own first edition of All Made Just For You.

I'll share just one of the poems here because it is about one of MY (and OLIVIA'S) favorite things -- books.

Thank you, Olivia, for sharing your gift with me and my friends.

 Pages of a Book

They fly like a jet,

zoommmm,

words like to bounce

all over them,

all of the colors you see,

make a strange image,

glued in your mind,

crumbly and old,

stiff and new,

each has its own personality,

adventure,

mystery,

fantasy,

science fiction,

they are all the same,

because they are all,

pages of a book

Olivia is already on her way to reaching her goals of becoming a chef, a photographer and a writer. She studies, practices and takes positive steps toward those goals at every opportunity. And she has fun doing it.

What about YOU? Are you studying? Practicing? Taking positive steps toward achieving your writing and publication goals? Or are you just sitting around hoping it happens?

Maybe it's time to learn a little from Olivia.