Okay quick! Which fictional character said that first? C’mon I know you weren’t planning on a pop quiz but "nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition" (reference?)...
If you said the beautiful and wonderful friend Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web you’re correct!
Well, now that we’ve broken the ice, we can sit back and chat like friends which is my favorite place to be, among friends.
By now I’m sure you’re wondering who I am and why I’m blogging for Rachel today. I’m Buffy Scott, intrepid adventurer, damsel in distress, fearless warrior, mother to seven, and wife of 15 years. I met Rachel a couple years ago at a Soup Exchange - which by the way if you’ve never participated in a soup exchange plan one for next fall you’re tummy & wallet will thank you. I’m pretty sure it was an instant friendship, but the roots really dug in deep when we both realized we shared an affinity to reading...most especially Christian Romance. I think everyone needs at least one friend they can totally fangirl with and not feel the littlest bit of embarrassment, which is what Rachel is to me...or is that I for her?
Right now I’m a full-time student at Eastern Washington University. I’m in the pre-nursing program and a lot of my texts are science ladened (which I adore). I have seven children, ages 2 to 13, plus my husband, church ministry, and other friends & family that I enjoy spending time with. All these responsibilities would make you think that I’m off the hook on reading, but I’m not. For starters, reading is my ESCAPE.
My oldest son has ADHD and is Autistic & I have a son with a VERY difficult temperament. So my days are often more emotionally exhausting than physically. Reading is my escape. I know it sounds incredibly cliche to say that I actually become a part of the book I’m reading, but it’s true. I’ve been a mail-order bride, a Lady of England’s Aristocracy, a feminist warrior, and so much more as I read. In fact, reading is the only time I have found that I can truly shut out all the distractions around me and just enjoy the solitude of a good book.
The next reason I make time for reading is COMMUNICATION. Have you ever struggled to tell your husband something in a way he can understand? Do you ever struggle in getting ideas across to your children? Have misunderstandings and miscommunication weighed down a close friendship? Well reading could be the answer. I don’t mean self-help or devotionals, I mean fiction. There’s a reason why many feel that romance novels are predictable and that the storylines don’t change much between books. That’s because human behavior is quite predictable. What this means for communication is that you can bet that out there, tucked into some amazing read is a conversation similar to the problem you’re facing. In a great book there will be miscommunication written in so you can learn from the mistakes of characters, but also there are gems about how to talk to different people. I know that my entire view on communication changed after reading a book & the “Aha!” moment came that all the stress and strife the characters faced could have been avoided if they had just talked instead of assuming the other knew or worse expecting the other person to read their mind. I have taken this thought to heart and realized that if I don’t express what’s on my mind then no one will know. So I talk - a lot.
The final reason I’ll leave you with for reading even when busy is CONVICTION. I have found that the Holy Spirit leads me in between the pages of a good book - Christian and non-Christian alike. Many times the changes in my heart come because as I see myself in a character I also see the struggles of their sins and it convicts me.
There are so many more reasons to read but for the sake brevity I’ll just mention those. Now you’re thinking, "How do I make time for it?" Well the easy answer is to always carry a book with you. All those times you spend waiting in line, grab your book and start reading. Audible.com is a favorite resource too, because yes, your ears can read! Many time you can catch a deal on Kindle for a book & for a dollar or two more you can add narration to it. I get lots of great tips & advice on reading aloud from the Read Aloud Revival Podcast & blog.
About Buffy Scott
Buffy is wife and mother to 7 kids whom she affectionately refers to as The Scottish Riot. When she isn’t wrangling children or cleaning up after them, she can be found either knitting, sewing, crocheting, or reading. Though sometimes she’ll craft and read. A junior at Eastern Washington University, she’s working on her nursing prereqs and dreams of the day she can catch babies as a midwife. Find Buffy on instagram as @made2give.
