Have you ever noticed that when you put two readers and/or writers together, it doesn’t take long until they’ve made that love-of-words connection and have become forever friends? I know that’s true for me. In fact, a love for books is right up there under “love for Jesus” in my priority list of friendship requirements.

It started when I was little, even before I started school. I was already in love with words, reading everything I could get my hands on. When I did start school and met others who shared my passion, I was thrilled! Wow, now I had someone to go to the library with me on Saturdays when all the other kids were wasting their time playing games or riding bikes. (Hey, I didn’t know we were considered nerds, so who cares, right?)

To this day I still gravitate toward word people. Conversely, when I meet someone who says, “I’ve never been much of a reader,” I think, Whoa! What a wasted life! Sure, we can still establish some sort of relationship, but it’s going to be limited.

All of this came to the forefront recently when my husband and I decided that, beginning this year when he retires, we are no longer going to spend our summers sweltering in the SoCal desert heat. Instead, when the temps hit triple digits, we’re heading somewhere cool. This summer it will be the Pacific Northwest where our youngest son and his family have a guest apartment. (We also have other relatives and friends there, so we have promised not to hang out there the entire summer!) But then I realized that being there for an extended period gave me an opportunity to meet other book lovers in the area. I contacted a couple of my author friends who live in that vicinity and soon found myself with several speaking engagements for readers/writers groups. And you know what? I know I’ll feel right at home when I go there because, in addition to the fact that they are Christian groups and we will therefore have that forever connection, we will also share that love-of-words connection.

It’s a family thing, don’t you think? And I’m so pleased to be part of this love-of-words family here on Christians Read. You are all a blessing!