Here's to pondering the character of folks, "back then"...

I like to describe our family life on our little farm as “simple but good”.  We don’t go many places or do many things.  We have a television set that is reserved for a “Friday night show” and the kids take turns picking something to watch. Mary Poppins, Swiss Family Robinson and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are among the favorites... oh, as well as Greatest Showman! So we are at least marginally up with the times!

During the week we read books aloud. Chronicles of Narnia, the Little House on the Prairie books, and we recently started the Ralph Moody series, “Little Britches”.  It’s a huge hit in our house and has my children talking constantly about, “back then.”

Despite all the things people didn’t have “back then” what many folks did have was the ability to raise children of character.  

I wanted to share a little portion that we read the other night from the story “Little Britches”.  A conversation between a father and his eight year old son.  Which takes place after an accident which proceeded a deception.

“You might have killed yourself, or the horse, but much worse than that, you have injured your own character. A man’s character is like his house.  If he tears boards off his house and burns them to keep himself warm and comfortable, his house soon becomes a ruin.  If he tells lies to be able to do the things he shouldn’t do but wants to, his character will soon become a ruin. A man with a ruined character is a shame on the face of the earth.”Maybe it’s just me, but I am greatly encouraged by the example of parents taking precious time for their children and fully grasping that it is their unique  responsibility to shape the character of the next generation.

I can also appreciate that raising children can be exhausting and even discouraging, but I encourage you to persevere and take heart.  Your role as a parent is integrally vital to creating the world that will remain after we have long gone!

In the wise words of Uncle Red from the Red/Green show... “I’m pulling for you, we are all in this together!”

Thank you kindly,

Glade Smith