I’m not sure if it is the times in which we live, my age, escaping from the issues of today, or just the memories of the past, but I spend more time now thinking about the “Good Ole Days”. I have an XM radio with over two hundred channels of radio and no long commercials. When I first got it as a Christmas present my first presets included the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, Gospel, and folk music stations. Singing along with the old familiar tunes brought back memories of being carefree and just being a kid.
Amazingly, I still remember most of the words. On Sunday, Lynnette and I sometimes listen to the old time Gospel singing on our drive to church. OK, Lynnette tolerates this music since she never grew up with this style of Christian music. Whenever 99% if the songs begin, I breakout in harmony from the words of those songs, as I recall my Mom playing piano for our Quartet.
The “Good Ole Days” were times when we did not have the pressure of life we experience today. We didn’t work 50 plus hours every week to make a living. Our parents took care of our needs and most of the time helped us achieve our wants. We were taught both simple and complex lessons on life.
So why is it so important for us to remember those days?
I believe that for people in my age bracket, it is a way to give significance to our situation in life today. My son is getting so good at helping me in the transition from significance to value in life. When we are together now, he is the first to start talking about things that happened when he was a child and talk about events I experienced with my dad, his granddad.
Now I believe that most of my successes are behind me so both my children give me value for the future. I don’t need the Father’s Day ties or other presents that are only used for a short time. Instead the best gifts are the ones where I can sit and talk with my children or listen to their life experiences and cherish our grandchildren.
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They have heard the stories before, but my joy is when they ask a question about those old days. In talking with both my kids recently, I independently heard them talk about working 50 to 60 hours at their jobs which sadly I know that this lifestyle leaves little time for their families. Even though they learned a good work ethic, I am striving to impart balance between work and their personal life, which continues to be a hard lesson for me to learn. We all have periods in our lives that we would like to forget, but we should strive to look at all our days as life lessons.
In the New Testament, the word “remember” is used sixty-seven times. Can’t you just imagine the followers of Christ recalling years after His ascension times when they laughed, cried, and saw the miracles He performed? It was many of those stories that changed others lives forever. Maybe it is time to listen more to the “Good Ole Days” stories of our family and friends. Many times we will see the impact that the Lord had on their life.
