Make It Yours

We have so many books in our house.
There are currently nine large bookshelves in various rooms.
There are four bookshelves in the living room alone.
There are three bookshelves on the bridge that overlooks the family room and foyer.

I know every book.
I have not read every book.
Some are reference books and are meant to be looked at from time to time.
Other books are on my to-read list.

My to-read list used to be quite small.
I would get a book and finish it.
I remember having a section of a bookshelf just for the yet-to-read books.
Now those books are scattered about, according to author.

If I had my way, I would have a library in my house.
I would have floor to ceiling bookshelves lining the walls.
I would have a cozy chair and a table for a cup of tea.
I would have a wonderful reading lamp that provided just the right illumination.

The next best thing was to have bookshelves in every bedroom.
My younger son took his bookshelf with him when he and his wife moved into their home.
My older daughters had smaller shelves, which went with them as well.
I still have five large bookshelves upstairs and four large bookshelves downstairs.

I know where to look if I want to find something.
I can find a book at a moment’s notice.
The books are organized by author.
They are not on the shelves in any particular order.

When someone borrows a book from me, it may sit on their shelf or bedside table for a while.
I ordered pretty book labels and had them printed so they could be placed on the front page.
The label says: This book belongs to Gina Gallagher.
That way, the inside of the book has my name in it and will make it easier to remember.

The labels work, if I put one inside the book that is being borrowed.
There are a few books that are missing from my shelves and I have no idea where they may be.
I really wonder why anyone would want my books at all.
I make a book my own very quickly.

I underline sentences.
I put a star next to things that I want to find easily on a page.
I write, IMPT, which is my abbreviation for, important.
If I disagree with something the author says, I will write, NO!, in the margin.

I could never sell any of my books for that reason, not that I would ever want to sell them.
I am the kind of book owner that would get a poor rating on a used book site.
I am the kind of book owner that would have an entire paragraph describing the markings.
I know that about myself; I simply must interact with my books.

My husband has tried repeatedly to get me interested in an E-reader.
He has offered to buy me one numerous times.
Every time he asks, I give him the same answer.
NO! but I always add, Thank you, at the end of my answer.

I want to hold a book.
I want to smell a book, particularly if it is an old one.
I want to interact with the author on the pages.
I want to mark it up so I can find a favorite quote or paragraph at a later time.

Ironically, I do not buy used books in the condition that one would find mine.
I want to buy a book as clean as can be so that I can mark it up the way I choose.
It makes no sense to a person who is not a book lover.
It makes perfect sense to someone like me.

I delight in having books all around me.
They are friends to me.
I was not a reader when I was growing up.
My love of books happened later in life.

My mother used to encourage me to read.
In those growing up years, I would rather pretend and do creative things in my free time.
My mother used to say the same thing to me over and over.
You are never without a friend when you have a good book to read.

I had to read in high school and college.
I never realized how well read I was becoming.
Reading a lot helped my writing.
The two seemed to go hand in hand.

I wanted my children to love books, so we read a lot.
We read so many book aloud, it would be difficult to count them.
We went to the library every other week.
They each had a satchel in which they put their book selections.

We read book series and books that stood alone.
We cared about the characters and what happened to them.
We found ourselves talking about the book even when we were not reading.
Without planning it, the books became our friends.

If I was somewhat well-read before, I became really well-read when I had children.
The TV was hidden inside an armoire.
Music and books were readily available.
My oldest daughter was an English major in college; she is more well-read than me.

When I started to mark up my books, I began loving them more.
I interacted with my friend who sat on the table waiting for me.
I looked forward to the time when I could put my feet up and get lost in a book for a while.
My children tease me because I often read to learn, but even that is enjoyable to me.

There is one Book that is marked up more than the rest.
The markings in this Book are signposts on my journey.
I have added markings each year for the past twenty-seven years.
This Book is read from cover to cover every year.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)

My personal Bible does not go to church with me.
My personal Bible only leaves the house for a few reasons.
I will bring this Bible with me if I am speaking at a retreat or luncheon.
I will bring it with me when I am on vacation.

My personal Bible is taped in many places.
It has been through more covers than I can count.
I have bookmarks to keep my place in the Old and New Testament, in Psalms, and Proverbs.
Twenty-seven times I have begun to read it and finish before the end of the year.

God’s Word is a part of me.
Reading it over and over these many years has taught me to think biblically.
I have many other Bibles, in different translations, but my personal Bible is my favorite.
I know where everything is on the page; I can picture it in my mind.

My personal Bible tells my spiritual journey in the markings.
It is very special to me; the markings make it mine.
Write in your Bible.
Make it yours; tell your spiritual journey in the markings.

2 responses to “Make It Yours”

1. I know where you’re coming from! I don’t have as many books as you do, but I do have a wall of books in my loft/office. I also mark many places in my Bible, my most cherished book.. I LOVE to read and always have. It’s always been a way to escape my own life and situations sometimes disheartening, but I can get into a good book and see another viewpoint. You are a great example of how important God’s word is!

   Reply

   • Sue,
     All the glory goes to Him.
     What a blessing it is to study God’s Word with you.
     Gina

     Reply