A Post Season Promise

"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." -Mark Twain

I saw a great comic strip in the paper today: A child was showing his friend a book he was holding in his hand. In the background was a Consumer Electronics Show. The two looked at the book entitled IVANHOE with amazement. The child with the book tells his friend, "It's a gift from my grand-dad." His friend replies enthusiastically, "Cool. How do you turn it on?" [Mike Keefe/Star Telegram]

I chuckled as I thought of the irony that, at that very moment, my folks were visiting with us from out town, and my dad was tinkering with his new iphone in wonder and slight frustration.

As I cropped out this part of the painting today, I was reminded about the importance of the wisdom and comfort we can gleam from our parents, grandparents, & mentors - Those who have experienced a stretch of life beyond our own.

My two grandfathers, Ramon and Domingo (who we affectionately referred to as "Abuelito") were very influential in my life growing up. What stood out most prominently was their light-hearted zeal for life. Humor was a major part of their packaging. They seemed to light up the room when they walked in.

One loved to sing and dance at every opportunity. I believe he would boldly have entered AMERICAN IDOL if it were around back then. This man not only sang - he passionately wrote much of his material! He had a way with animals as well. His horse would hop into the back of his pickup on command. He tamed a deer that freely became a part of the farm. And, on numerous occasions, saw him shoot a rattlesnake with his Pancho Villa-type revolver. Wow, he could have been the star of his own show!

The other exemplified joy - always smiling, and eager to make others smile. It seemed like I was his favorite grandchild. He was a man of few words - but his little chuckle spoke volumes. He led the family, in a way that seemed effortless, through various seasons of pain and joy alike. He expressed hospitality & kindness at his home in Mexico; gladly sharing his faithful burro to us grandkids at every visit. He also shared the fruit of his pomegranate orchard and the stars above his great ranch!

Both of these men expressed, in their own way, a simple faith in God. Calm, cool, collected at all times. I never saw them lose their temper or cause strife with others around them. They were well respected, by their family and others. Harvest from the seeds they sowed themselves, I suppose.

I thank God for them. I believe we all have someone in our lives that we can look to for wisdom and comfort to help us directly, or indirectly get through the hard times in our lives. Now maybe the time for you to look to these men or women in your life. Perhaps, now is a good time to remember to give thanks.

I don't know if there is such a thing as "the good old days." But, I do know that today we can choose to make it "a good new day!"

[Psalms 37:25, Lamentations 3:22]