Earlier in the year, Danny and I decided to challenge Jacob during his twelfth year as he turns thirteen, to read the Bible in a year. We also decided to provide incentive by offering a reward if he finished in a year - a lego robot that he has been wanting for a very long time. Not only did Jacob eagerly accept the challenge, he far exceeded our expectations. He actually finished the entire Bible in 107 days!!
Words cannot describe the sweetness we felt as we watched our son grow in his love for and knowledge of the Bible. We would go into his room regularly and find him reading the Bible. He read for hours every day. He read late into the night, every night. He read in the car, he read in his room, he read in the study, he would go places with me just to be able to read more. We quizzed him along the way to be sure he was retaining - and he was. We know that the habit of Bible reading is the most important habit he could ever attain - and he did. Our hearts are just bursting with pride at how he set a goal for himself, and worked diligently to achieve that goal. Reading God's word was the plan, but he also learned a life lesson along the way - a lesson in hard work, diligence, persistence, and of not giving up when it gets hard (like in Leviticus!!!)
Jacob is a wonderful young man. We are so grateful for him, and for the example he is to his younger siblings. He is faithful to the tasks he has before him, and one of his strengths is self-control. He is fun to be around, and he is just getting funnier all the time! I know that the teenage years are right ahead of us, and we pray that he will continue to be a joy to us, responsive to us, and continue his respectful attitude and obedience to his parents and to God. Many temptations lie just around the corner - and Lord willing, Jacob will move gracefully through these years, relying on the Lord to be his strength and joy.
Jacob, we hope you have many happy hours building and creating with your lego Mindstorms!! We were SO happy to give it to you - you absolutely earned it and deserve it! We love you son!!
2 comments:
can I have a robot if I read the bible in a year... hehe
Great Job Jacob! The Daukas' are proud of you! Keep on reading and hiding God's word in your heart!
Hi Liz,
That was an inspirational story. What a creative incentive. I wrote about it in my blog today which you can check out at www.wordtraveler.org at the bottom of the post. I and linked my readers to this entry.
Is that picture at the top of the blog Jacob or a generic picture of a boy reading the Bible?
Thanks.
Dave Scriven
dave.scriven@verizon.net
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