Bookish Life
Reading as Relationship: Simple Practices for Meaningful Conversations Around Books
One of the quiet pressures many parents feel after encountering a thoughtful book list goes something like this: Okay… but now what?I know I’ve felt it. You find good books. Beautiful books. Worthy books. And then you’re left wondering how to hold them well—how to move from choosing stories to actually living with them in a…
Read MoreGrowing Wisdom, Empathy, and Presence Through Story
For years, I practiced social-emotional learning long before I had a name for it. It happened on the couch during read-alouds, in the car after we closed a book and sat quietly with what lingered, and in the subtle ways one child felt deeply seen by a character while another felt unsettled and couldn’t yet…
Read MoreThe Selfish Giant, Attachment, and the Landscape of the Soul
The Selfish Giant, Attachment, and the Landscape of the Soul When I read Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant, I didn’t expect to find myself in the Giant. But there I was—his anger, his loneliness, his long winter felt strangely familiar. The Giant built walls to protect what was his, and I realized I’ve done the same…
Read MoreHospitality Through Story: Teaching Kids to Love Their Neighbors
When Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan, His listeners were shocked. The hero of the story wasn’t the religious leader or the respected citizen—it was the person they least expected. A neighbor who crossed cultural, religious, and social boundaries to show mercy. That’s the heart of hospitality: creating space for someone else, even…
Read MoreOctober Short Story Contest Theme Reveal: Light in the Darkness
Stories hold power because they capture turning points—the moments when shadows don’t get the last word, when hope flickers alive, and when light breaks into the darkest places. That’s why we’re so excited to announce the theme of this year’s Rooted Minds Short Story Contest: 🌟 Light in the Darkness 🌟 ✨ Theme Verse: John 1:5 — “The light shines…
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