Gilead

This book by Marilynne Robinson is amazing. I'm only partway through, but I can't imagine how anyone could write something so thoughtful and reflective and beautiful without being the character, an elderly minister close to death writing a letter to his young son to explain himself and his background, since the son might have few memories of his father. Every thought and image is like a devotional and feels as if it had a lifetime of careful reflection behind it.

Perhaps this book has prompted me to begin a blog. I once kept a journal for myself but now keep journals for each of my children. The first began (during pregnancy) by discussing my ideals and family history (Gilead but without its eloquence or profundity). But it, and the next, slowly morphed into chronicles of cute things kids do (interspersed with major news events of the day) -- which is probably much more fun to read for them and certainly fun for me to record and reread. But there are so many things that might not be right to share in that context, since the kids will probably read these before they are parents. For example, how upsetting it is to have to discipline and how frustrating parenting can be. That would be great to share with them once they are parents, but should kids be reading about that while still at an age when subject to discipline and parenting rules? And, most recently and most upsettingly, how you can find yourself pregnant and wish you weren't. I'm not sure a child should know that his or her mommy cried when she found that she was expecting another baby. Then again, the positive way to view this circumstance is that this baby is 100% planned by God, with no human interference. It's like having a divine purpose, Baby.