“Literature has a great natural power.”

“Literature has a great natural power. Through it, we receive the gifted communication of other persons. In literature, perhaps more than through any other art form, we are able to get into the other man’s shoes…”
~Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

I read this today.
It’s true, you know.

“In literature, we have the opportunity of developing a series of relationships with other persons, places, and historical times in a direct way. Perhaps this is the best place for mind to meet mind.” ~SSM

Again, true.

“Literature has a great natural power.” ~SSM

Let us not forget these things are true for our children

as well as for ourselves.

So, if it’s all true, how does that play out in practical terms for this busy-in-the process-of-adjusting-beginning-of-the-school-year-momma-whose-husband-just-started-a-new-job-and-also-starts-working-on-his-Master’s degree-this-month? Good question, huh? Also, just today in an email from a friend, she mentioned fitting in some things for herself amidst the heavy schedule of “getting it all done” at home with her children.

Ahhhh, a dilemma many of us face.

With this quandary in mind, mixed with the thoughts on literature I had read, I thought of  a couple of rather practical solutions…at least for me, anyway!

First, websites like this one and this one, offer a huge variety of ‘living books for the ears’. Yes, audio books for Mom, too! Now, those who know me, know that my phone is archaic. But even that old thing can hold a whole audio book! You can also download them to your computer or burn them onto cds. However you go about it, once you have the audio book and some cheap headphones, you can steal a few chapters at a time as you rake leaves, fold clothes, go for a walk, cook dinner, drive to the grocery store, and so on.

Secondly, you can read while the kids read. Remember D.E.A.R. time from when you were in school? You know, Drop Everything And Read!?!? If you make this part of the day for the kids and include yourself, you could easily get half an hour or so of reading a couple of days a week or more!

I love few things more than a really, really wonderful piece of literature. I find it true that “literature has a great natural power.”

Now, I’m off to do some downloading…and attempt to do a better job of ‘spreading the feast’ of literature by reading something not written by my beloved Jane Austen!

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