Since I learned to read as a child, I have enjoyed books, and this love has carried over into adulthood.

I have to credit my parents with making sure we all read. They encouraged us to read, and I remember seeing both of them reading a lot.

It was entertainment for all of us, partly because we never had good television reception down the lane where I lived. I consider that a blessing now.

I read most of the books our school library had. I could not wait for the bookmobile to come to school. I always got the allotted number of books each week and read each one before the next week.

My mom would read the books I brought home as soon as I finished them. She was an incredibly fast reader. She always finished the books no matter how long they were before I had to turn them back in. She would read many of my brother’s books also.

I think reading encourages wisdom. I know I am far from being wise, but I think I am wiser because of reading.

I have learned much from reading and have often thought it would be sad not to be able to read. Thankfully, all children are now required to go to school and be taught to read.

I recently read a book by Mark DeMoss called “The Little Red Book of Wisdom.” I think it was the title that piqued my interest and my desire to become wiser. It also could have been how few pages the book has.

In the book’s dedication, he said he believes wisdom is a journey. I agree.

Age brings wisdom and many other things influence your wisdom. A desire to learn more is one of them. I know I am smarter at 70 than I was at 38.

When Mark was only 17, he lost his father, whom he adored and admired. He referenced his father throughout the book.

Seven months later, he lost a brother in an accident. His mom was only 40 years old at the time when she lost both a husband and a child.

Reading this I thought how wise Mark was at the time of his father and brother’s death. He was at an impressionable age, but I feel the people he was around and what they taught him in his early childhood had helped him to be the successful person he became. The Christian man and example his father had set for him never wavered throughout his adult life.

In his book, DeMoss said he would have never achieved such success as he has without the help of others.

He said something that has stuck with me after reading it: “Everyone is a public relations person.” I think this is true.

It does not matter the day or the person you meet. At any given time, that person can influence your day. If we all realized this and made an effort every day to build someone up or meet and greet with a smile, it would make such a difference.

He also said when he was in school he would see a turtle sitting on the fence post. He and his classmates realized the turtle could not get up there by himself, so someone had to have put him there.

He realized his success in business also came from the help of others. He would reward his workers by giving them time off from work with sabbaticals.

While DeMoss gave accolades to those around him, I thought of him as a wise man who had pulled from within himself to be the best person he could.

He was smart enough to know others helped him in life.

He was smart enough to know without the Lord, he could do nothing and gave credit to the Lord and encouraged each person to have a personal relationship with the Lord.

He was smart enough to know how important his family is to him.

I loved all the chapter titles of his book that seemed simple. One of the titles was “Shut up and Listen!” I am guilty of not listening enough. I apologize for this.

I guess I loved his book because much of the information is common sense, but requires wisdom to put into action.

I agree with much he said.

I have to say I am glad I picked up “The Little Red Book of Wisdom.”

I hope you will read more books this year. I must admit I picked this book up because I am determined to read up some books that are sitting on my shelves.

Now, I am looking forward to finishing another book.

Sue Staton is a Clark County native who grew up in the Kiddville area. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who is active in her church, First United Methodist Church, and her homemakers group, Towne and Country Homemakers.