Many Differences, One Big Heart—Linsey Davis

from Jesus Calling Magazine - Spring 2020 - Issue#3

Something Special for Moms, Dads, and Grads

Many Differences, One Big Heart

JOURNALIST LINSEY DAVIS REMEMBERS LESSONS FROM HER MOTHER

by Bonnie Honeycutt

In one small corner of our big world, author and journalist Linsey Davis is making waves by connecting hearts across cultures—and across generations. Linsey is no ordinary storyteller. As a renowned ABC News correspondent, Linsey has reported on many high-profile stories throughout her career, including Hurricane Katrina, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Las Vegas shooting, the Miracle on the Hudson, and more. But when she was little, Linsey had no idea she would be the veteran journalist she is today.

“My mom is very much responsible for my falling in love with storytelling.

The daughter of two teachers, Linsey’s father taught math and her mother

Beverly taught English. And while

Linsey on the set of ABC's news magazine, Nightline.

Beverly made sure her daughter knew the mechanics of the language inside and out (“She’s the person who made sure I got lay versus lie right,” says Linsey), Beverly also had an impact on her daughter’s lifelong interest in sharing stories. “My mom is very much responsible for my falling in love with storytelling—along with writing and the English language,” Linsey shares. “My mom has always been a big writer and spent a lot of time in our house modeling that for me. When she’s introducing me, she loves to tell a story of a time I got mad at her as a child. She says when I was a certain age, I said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me that these letters made words?’ I was so anxious to be able to read and write, and that was something she very much cultivated.”

“I think that confi dence building is one of the building blocks of success.

Along with a love for storytelling, Linsey’s parents made sure Linsey and her sister were in Sunday school each week. “When I look back now, I think that was so important to who I am today. When I was in church, that was my fi rst time doing any kind of public speaking. I think that confi dence building is one of the building blocks of success. I found that foundation in the church, and now I'm making sure I get that foundation for my son.”

Recently, mother and daughter joined forces to coauthor a children’s book together called One Big Heart: A Celebration of Being More Alike Than Diff erent. The story shares a timeless message that Beverly taught Linsey from the time she was a little girl: love your neighbor as yourself.

“Children just love. They're not thinking about all the diff erent divisions that we are often as adults,” Linsey explains. “My son’s fi ve, and when he comes home and he’s met a new friend, he doesn’t tell me about their race or their background or religion or culture. He just says what they have in common. They both like LEGOs, or drawing pictures, or whatever it is. I wanted to reinforce that notion for him and other children and parents who fi nd that same value important.

“Children just love. They're not thinking about all the diff erent divisions that we are often as adults.

“People often say that our children don’t see color, and I totally disagree with that. I think that they do see color; they just don’t assign a value to it. Quite often it’s adults who do that. When people have not been exposed to others who look diff erent from them, or have diff erent beliefs, or who act diff erently, perhaps there becomes this ‘us versus them’ attitude. I think that becomes so divisive, especially when people make our diff erences the fi rst thing they notice. “I believe that children do notice diff erence. So let’s say, ‘Hey, we have a diff erent color of skin, and hair, and features, and likes and dislikes. But guess what? God gave us all this one unique gift. He gave us all one big heart.’ That’s the most important part, because that’s where love starts.”