Past and Present 

I sometimes find myself comparing today’s world with the past, back when I was young, growing up on a farm. Living in a tin-roof house with my parents and five siblings. No indoor plumbing. No phone. No TV. And it felt very normal. It was life as we knew it and it was good. I went to a country school with the same kids from grade one through twelve and still have those precious friends. I wouldn’t trade those long-ago years. They helped shape my personality, my values, even my future. 

Today I live in a modest brick home with modern conveniences. Certainly not a palatial house, but my 10-year-old self would have thought it a mansion. I think about such things and how life changes through the years. 

I remember how tight money was as newly-weds with me just out of college at a brand-new teaching job and Carl just out of the Army. We lived in a small, furnished duplex with one car to get both of us to work. Then add a baby and things got complicated. But you know what? We made it work. 

Sometimes it’s good to look back on tough times. Hopefully, we see the good and not just the hard stuff. I remember a time when I had to watch every penny I spent at the grocery store, but we still found a way to share with others. We held friends and family close, never taking them for granted. Those difficult times helped shape our lives, our marriage, commitments, and more. 

And I wonder if we do the same today. Do we still cherish our vows to God and each other? When helping someone in need, do we also share our beliefs and the tenacious spirit that helped us through those tough times? 

Today’s younger generation is hungry for stories of how we held onto happiness and joy in the midst of difficulties. They need a mentor, a guide, in a world that is not always kind. So let’s savor and share the wisdom with which God gifted us in life’s hardships. I think we will all be blessed.