Much Ado about Harry
By the time you are reading this, the final installment of Harry Potter series is already out. Some of you have read it and already knew the much-awaited, much-speculated upon ending of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” According to USA Today, “more orders have been placed for this book than for any other in history… It is the largest pre-ordered book in history.” I suppose that means author J.K. Rowling will remain as the richest woman in Britain, the first ever to become a billionaire through writing.
Really, there’s much ado about Harry. Well, this is not an article on whether we should or should not allow our kids to read Harry Potter. My concern is what we can learn from this.
First, our kids can still enjoy reading. Steve Riggio, CEO of Barnes & Noble said, “Harry Potter brings forth the idea that reading a book is perhaps the greatest form of entertainment of all.” In this world of X-box and massively multiplayer online role-playing games, that’s a breath of fresh air.
Second, this underscores the need to guide our children on what they are reading. Just the other day, my son Jesse is reading Gracia Burnham’s “In the Presence of My Enemies.” It gave me an opportunity to answer his questions about “jihad” and other words he encountered in the book. Whether they are watching a movie or reading a book, we have to make time to be there for them.
Lastly, this shows the urgency and the necessity that we encourage our children to enjoy reading the Bible. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 commands us, “Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.” (The Message) This Potter phenomenon will not be the end. There will be more like this. That’s why we need to make sure we parents and our kids are grounded on the Word of God.
Brethren, let’s give much ado about the Bible.
Really, there’s much ado about Harry. Well, this is not an article on whether we should or should not allow our kids to read Harry Potter. My concern is what we can learn from this.
First, our kids can still enjoy reading. Steve Riggio, CEO of Barnes & Noble said, “Harry Potter brings forth the idea that reading a book is perhaps the greatest form of entertainment of all.” In this world of X-box and massively multiplayer online role-playing games, that’s a breath of fresh air.
Second, this underscores the need to guide our children on what they are reading. Just the other day, my son Jesse is reading Gracia Burnham’s “In the Presence of My Enemies.” It gave me an opportunity to answer his questions about “jihad” and other words he encountered in the book. Whether they are watching a movie or reading a book, we have to make time to be there for them.
Lastly, this shows the urgency and the necessity that we encourage our children to enjoy reading the Bible. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 commands us, “Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.” (The Message) This Potter phenomenon will not be the end. There will be more like this. That’s why we need to make sure we parents and our kids are grounded on the Word of God.
Brethren, let’s give much ado about the Bible.
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