Susie-Q&A

• Jul. 5, 2009 - Happy Birthday, America!

We had a great time last night at the next-door neighbor's cookout. I got to chat with some lovely people, including the neighbors who own the land directly behind us. He told the children they were welcome to play there, as he has made several trails among the pine woods. They were such nice people! I spoke at length with a retired Baptist minister from New York state, who was so funny and jovial with the children. Our host lit sparklers for the children and then fired off quite a few fireworks, and we saw more than one mortar-style display in the distance too. The kids whooped and cheered and generally wore themselves out. Fuzzy fell asleep in the arms of an older girl there before we left.

Since we're making a long trip to my sister's wedding this coming weekend (whoopee!) I decided not to make the long drive to our favorite church this morning. I'm going to spend the day planning this week, writing lists, and figuring out the last bit of our outfitting. I let the kids sleep in, but they've since let the poultry out, fed and watered them, and gravitated to the soggy sandbox (which now is filled to overflowing with builder's sand donated by our *other* next-door neighbor!).

Sometimes I wonder where we'll be as a people once the only generation to rely upon is our own. What will we do without those who, for example, fought and endured WWII? I wish the character of previous generations could somehow magically be distilled into our own. I feel as if my parents', grandparents' and great-grandparents' integrity, resourcefulness, hopeful outlook, and respectful demeanor are no longer valued by the larger segment of society. But character isn't communicated purely like a virus; it's something built inwardly, painstakingly, by facing challenge and hardship, and weathering them with one's heart before God intact. It's just that it's much harder to build the right kind of character without having the right kind of mentors to help us along the way, and provide examples for us. I don't want them to go away. I want them to be here for my children to know and learn from. I wish I felt I (and my generation) were up to the task. Maybe every succeeding generation feels this way, though. :)

Comments

• Jul. 7, 2009 - Palin

Posted by Anonymous

I hope this comment isn't a reproduction of my earlier one which didn't seem to "take". I wish your essay could be published where there would be good exposure. It expresses what I feel and I cannot seem to find words to express. I think others might speak up if they didn't feel so overwhelmed by the oppressive evil in our culture.

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