Tag Archives: Wise

TO BE 50

17 Sep

Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and depise not thy mother when she is old. 

Proverbs 23:22 KJV

Oh, what enjoyment to be 50.

At the stroke of midnight,

I went from rebellious to eccentric,

Opinionated to wise,

Distant to decisive.

I’ve seen the joy of a new century,

And remember the fear of nuclear fall-out.

Saw a man walk on the moon,

Which disproved a childhood belief,

That the moon was a ball of green cheese.

I’ve seen skirts go up, and down, and up again,

And pants that bell, then snuggle, and bell again.

I’ve started a life without TV

And now enjoy home theatre,

In my own living room.

I started with out-houses,

And ended up with 2 wonderful bathrooms,

One totally “Mickey” and one totally “Sports”.

As long as the water continues to go down,

And not come back up,

They can stay in the house.

I’ve grown up to big bands,

Country/Western,

Folk Songs,

Rock & Roll,

And Rap.

I’ve heard it loud, I’ve heard it soft

I prefer it soft.

I’ve seen my children born and grow,

Laugh and cry.

I’ve seen things that were once

So important to me,

Rest in boxes headed for a thrift shop.

I’ve found the value of a 2-hour nap,

And the treasure of eating out.

I still love reading a good book,

While sitting in front of a warm fire,

If it’s winter.

A cool air conditioner,

If it’s summer.

And out on the deck if it’s spring.

Have I changed?

Maybe a little over the years.

But, I still wear Mickey Mouse shirts

And Eeyore overalls.

I have overindulged in surrounding myself

With pets,

Still treasure my family,

And covet my “free” time.

What has changed?

The way you look at me.

I slipped quietly into the next level of life,

And it made this wild ole’ grandma acceptable,

With just the stroke of a clock.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be accepted

Without having to grow old?

 

❤  Written 11-28-2000

 

❤  Wow!  That was 20 years ago!!!

Other than longer naps,

nothing much has changed!!  ❤

 

STORYTELLER

27 Oct

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jeremiah 31:33

From the first time I saw the Storyteller, and was told the story behind it, I have wanted one. Storytellers, carved by Native Americans, have one large person at the center, eyes closed and mouth open, and lots of little people all around it, most sitting upon the large person, listening.

In the Native American culture, the Storyteller was usually the oldest person in the tribe, male or female, who taught the history of the tribe to the children. The history was passed from generation to generation by the stories the Storyteller painted.

This little statue has always reminded me of the early Jewish culture, where fathers sat and taught their sons the lineage of their family, the words of God (the Old Testament), and primarily the Torah. The only written reminders of history, for thousands of years, were the scrolls kept in the synagogue and read by the priests to the men of age. It was the duty of the men to teach the family and to help the sons memorize the words on the scrolls.

In today’s culture we are spoiled by inexpensive Bibles, study tools, computer software, audio and video tapes. Bible memorization, other than in Sunday school classrooms, is uncommon, and essentially, not desired.

Why memorize something you can retrieve in a moments notice? The answer – relationship. Intimacy with God is never accomplished through a keyboard and a hard-drive. Intimacy with God is accomplished by knowing his story, knowing it, meditating on it, sharing it (storytelling), by putting it deep within your, and your children’s heart.

Instant coffee, instant food, instant scriptures. Lord, remind me always of the preciousness of Your Word, that I may never take it for granted. Remind me to study and read, day and night, that Your Word will be etched in my heart.

Written 7-14-2000