Bible Reading for Mamas - Creative Solutions (Part 2/3)
I started a Bible reading plan over the summer which completed at the end of August. Since then, I’ve started another reading plan that spans September through May. Something that I learned early on in my reading plan journey is that in order for me to successfully complete each day’s reading, I need to be creative in keeping my little girl busy while I read. Bible reading looks very differently for me right now than it did before I became a mama. This isn’t a bad thing though! Completing Bible reading with an infant is sure to look differently than completing it as a parent of an older child too. If you’re finding yourself in the same season as me or just need some inspiration on how to make Bible reading a priority, this post is for you! Here are my top 5, go-to strategies to help me complete my daily Bible reading. :)
Time It Thoughtfully
This one seems kind of obvious, but it’s much harder than it sounds at times. ;) Timing makes a huge difference in helping me to complete my Bible reading. I’ve done different things over the course of the past several months as Madeline has grown and her attention span and abilities have changed. The idea with timing, though, is to plan your reading so that you do it when your baby (or child) is most content. I often read right after Madeline wakes up from a refreshing nap or when she is taking a nap. She is the least fussy during these times and I have the best chance of focusing on and remembering what I’m reading. If your kids are older, maybe it would work best to time your reading before they wake up so the house is quiet. Arranging your reading around events and activities that are more set-in-stone is also a good way to ensure that reading doesn’t get pushed to “tomorrow.”
Try Multi-Tasking
Back in June when I started my reading plan, my baby was only 6 months old and couldn’t quite grasp toys by herself without quickly dropping them. She needed me next to her to hand her toys for entertainment. During that period of time, I would set her up in her Bumbo seat next to me and gather several of her favorite toys. I’d sit next to her and do my reading as I’d hand her toys every time she’d drop them. It was a constant cycle of reading sentences quickly, diverting my attention to hand her a toy or praise her for playing by herself, and then finding my spot in my Bible to continue reading. I experimented with location and would shift our reading/playing spot if she needed a change in scenery. Over time, this cycle became our routine and, since we both became accustomed to it, my Bible reading felt relatively easy to complete.
She’s now 10 months old and much more able to entertain herself for short periods of time; however, I still find myself taking breaks from my reading to comfort her, read her a board book, or reposition and train her when she tries to touch something she isn’t supposed to touch. Motherhood is sometimes full of interruptions, but they’re not necessarily bad; the Lord uses these to grow us in patience, selflessness, and kindness toward our children.
“Read” Using the Method that Works Best
Sometimes Bible reading doesn’t look much like “reading” at all, and that’s okay! Whether your soul is consuming the Word by means of a physical Bible, an app on your phone, listening to an audio Bible, or another method, you’re still being filled with God’s truth. One of the things that I’m learning to embrace in motherhood is flexibility! Some days, I read my Bible plan in my physical, She Reads Truth Bible. Other days, I read my plan via a Bible app on my phone because simply turning the pages of my physical Bible risks waking my baby sleeping next to me (I can’t really complain; I’m a light sleeper too! ;) ).
It’s also so important to know what works well for you. I’ve tried listening to audio recordings of the Bible multiple times in the past, and I always end up zoning out. Long before I realize it, my thoughts are on dinner plans, what’s next on my to-do list, and on and on. Listening to the Bible is difficult for me. Add the brain-fog of having a newborn or being short on sleep, and I’m sure it’d be extra challenging. With that said, I know many women who love completing their Bible “reading” by listening to audio recordings. It helps them to focus and they can multi-task as they do it. Often times, they complete simpler tasks, such as a load of dishes or folding a basket of laundry as they’re listening. It fills their soul, ends in completed chores, and passes the time! Win-win-win!
Read Together!
Before beginning my Summer Bible Reading Challenge, I had assumed that my Bible reading could only meaningfully be done during my ideal “quiet time.” Since I envisioned my ideal quiet time as a period where I could be by myself in a quiet home without interruptions so that I could fully remember what I read, my Bible reading rarely happened. ;) A couple of times, my husband took our baby for a daddy-daughter outing on a Saturday morning while I got to read my Bible and pray in our quiet home, but that quickly became a bit cumbersome for our busy schedules. My reading just wasn’t happening that way.
It was around this time that I remembered a couple of moms I follow on Instagram who read with their children each day. Sometimes they also read Scripture by themselves during a “quiet time,” but if that doesn’t happen, they know they will at least be filled with the Word when they read with their children. The bonus is that their children are fed by the Word as well! I’ve tried this a few times with Madeline, and while she’s definitely too young to be grasping and taking in what I’m reading, she is entertained by my reading aloud and stays calm for me to finish at least some of my reading.
Another great thing about reading aloud with your children is that they absorb way more than we often think they do. Even if they’re too young to comprehend what you’re reading, it trains them to learn to sit quietly and to listen. For little hands, you might consider giving them some laundry to fold as you’re reading. This time also shows them that you value God’s Word and the importance of consistently coming before it. For older children who can read, you can take turns reading aloud. Stopping to explain concepts to them, ask them comprehension questions, make connections, and answer any other questions they may have is a great way to go about your family reading time too! Not only will you all be filled with the Word, but it will be a sweet time of bonding as well.
Be Flexible
Flexibility encompasses the other four creative solutions that I mentioned. Be patient as you persevere through your reading plan! Some days will go more smoothly than others. If you end up missing a day (or more!) of reading, simply jump back in the next day. There’s no condemnation for missing your scheduled Bible reading; instead, there’s so much grace when you faithfully and joyfully (albeit, sometimes exhaustingly) come before the Lord’s Word with a quiet spirit and desire to be fed. On most days, I start my reading, need to take a break to nurse my baby or play with her, and then I continue on after she’s content again. Sometimes, I start by reading in my physical Bible and then part of the way through, I switch to my phone app. However you need to flex to read God’s Word, you’re guaranteed to be blessed by regularly coming before the Lord. Flexibility on one day might look totally different than flexibility on another day. It’s all good and the Lord uses this stretching to grow and sanctify us!
Well, there you have it! These are my 5 creative solutions to reading my Bible as a mama. Have you tried any of these solutions? Do you have any others I can add to my list? Share with me in the Comments!
Much love until next time,
Christy