INSPIRASUNS

I shared in this little blog many months ago about a wonderful older parishioner from our church back in Illinois. My husband and I got to know Ed very well after his wife passed away. We would frequently go out to breakfast after church, and he would invite us back to his condo just off the downtown park. We’d chat about his wife, and he would share stories of his days in the service and at the University of Illinois.

The time came when Ed moved to assisted living, a small facility not far from our home where he was loved by all the staff there. Everyone called him ‘grandpa’. Though Ed and his wife never had children, he loved them, and he treated the aids that cared for him like his kids/grandkids.

Over the past few days I’ve thought about Ed, he passed away about three years ago. I still keep up with the facility that took such good care of him, through social media. They are doing some wonderful things with the residents and it just reminds me of our time with Ed. I’ve seen outings to Steak and Shake, (Ed loved the place), bingo games hosted by some young children, afternoon dancing with local musicians, therapy dogs spending time with residents, it really has been wonderful to see. It makes my heart happy you could say. These residents have so much to share, they remember a time when the world was a simpler place, the good ole days as Ed used to say.

Last night we had dinner with a friend and we were discussing local restaurants and the service. I found it interesting as we discussed one restaurant here that my husband said is like “stepping back in time when you walk inside”. Our friend commented, “that’s not a bad thing”. She then said, “I guess I’m showing my age”, and I agreed that going back in time wasn’t a bad thing. We too were discussing the good ole days when service was different, and respect was key.

I guess this morning as I sat down to write this little blog I couldn’t help but think about those good ole days. We can, and should learn a lot from our past. There are ways that we did things, “back then”, and are still the best even today. There are things we’ve gotten away from because of convenience, it’s easier to order what you need online than to visit the local mom-and-pop business to get what you need. Before we knew it, the mom-and-pop business was gone.

Yes, my friends, I guess the point of this little blog today is to encourage you to stop and take a step back in time. Take some time today to remember the ways we did things, the respect we showed, the time when you sat down to dinner as a family every night and heard about each other’s day, the time when you dressed up to travel instead of being in pajamas, the times when it was safe for you as a kid to be gone all day in the summer just riding around the neighborhood and playing with friends. Perhaps it’s time to revisit some of the old days and old ways and make them new again.

Thanks for letting me ramble a bit this morning. Have a wonderful day my friends, and thanks as always for your support.

Titus 2:7
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.