Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Are Big Words Genetic?

I've started to realize that my 5 yr old daughter is frequently using unusually lofty words for her age...so, my question is, is a propensity for "fancy talk" (thanks Patrick Star) genetic? I've been told since my 2 kiddos were born that they were both very articulate for their age. Most of my friends assume I read to them a lot and that's the reason for the vocabulary...but I don't!! I try to read to them, but it doesn't happen often.
I've always had a dorkily fancy vocabulary because I was a voracious reader as a child (My parents were isolationist homeschoolers...I had no friends). When I entered real school in jr high many of my peers had no idea what I was saying most of the time. I still have my friends and husband look at me strangely sometimes when I talk.

On another note, I've been considering the purposes behind food a lot lately. I have read a couple of great posts on this topic in the LOPW blogroll lately too. Here's the gist of my thoughts:
In regards to food, God has been working on me a lot lately. Why did He create food for us to eat? How do we eat (or not eat) in such a way that honors Him? I have taken to heart too many of societies "dos and donts" in terms of food. There is a healthy way to eat, but consider the story of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abedigo. They ate nothing but veggies and water, while everyone else ate rich (which, back then, wasn't all that bad) food. Logically, the veggie eaters should've been weaker than all the others, but GOD TOLD Daniel to eat veggies and God allowed them to become strong by it. It finally struck me that this is truly a miracle and an instance of God directing ones eating.
God may call me to fast for 2 days. Bodily that may not be the most healthy thing, but it may further my spiritual life.
God may ask me to sit down at an eating contest and compete so that I can start a relationship with another contestant.
He may ask me to eat only a bowl of rice a day, to better understand the plight of people in poor countries.
He may not ever ask me to eat anything other than the "norm". I'm not saying that He will direct a person's every bite, but I think food ought to be looked at in light of Him more often. How do we look at food from His perspective??? I'd love to hear comments from others!!

3 comments:

Robin said...

It seems that God often used food for His purposes in the Bible. From Adam and Eve NOT eating from the tree of life, to the Levitical laws concerning food, to all the feasts and fasts, to Peter's dream, I don't know - it seems that somehow He can change us and speak to us by what we do or do not eat. I will look forward to hearing more of what you are learning!

Anonymous said...

What fancy words is your 5 year-old using?

I don't know what to say about God and food.

Just Me said...

The whole thing about God & food, is probably something we've all being trying to figure out for ages! The whole Levitical Law - as robin pointed out - straight thru to Peter's dream, does remind us that 'food' is important. I think that even the world is wrestling with the issue of 'food' and what to do with it. Why else would the diet industry be a billion dollar business? Or all the diet places be such going concerns? The topic is important...but at the same time you hit the nail on the head, when you said that we should be listening to God more, about what to eat and what not to eat! Maybe if we actually asked Him about our portion size..and our snacks, we'd all lose those unwanted pounds,and learn to hear His voice better too!