It’s A Great Life If You Don’t Weaken
When we were young!
This post is dedicated to my sister Suzy of the blond pig tails and the pretty smile. Her birthday was yesterday. She is one of the strongest women I know and an avid reader of Laura Ingalls Wilder!
“The real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.”
― Laura Ingalls Wilder
When we were young, Laura Ingalls Wilder author of the “Little House on the Prairie” and many other extraordinary books like “On The Banks of Plum Creek” were family favorites. My mom would make a huge wooden bowl of popcorn with five smaller bowls to match. And we would all sit and eat popcorn by the fire and listen to her read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s wonderful stories. Suzy and I were a bit too old to be read to, but it did not matter, the tales were so engaging so filled with great stories and even though she and I had read them they were fun to hear mom read the great stories to the four of us before the warm fire.
We resembled the little family in the stories on nights like those. So close. Just spending time together. Without modern conveniences. Basking in the warmth of a good book and enjoying each other’s company. Imagine a family today trying something like that. Everyone would have their smart phone out to check their Facebook, text their friends, or play a video game!
But I’m probably selling today’s family short. There’s a lot more conversation, interaction and fun going on than I imagine I’m sure! There certainly is at our family gatherings and we have about 4 generations represented much of the time! So much changes and then again nothing does. Good values remain the same, honesty, making the most of what you have in life, whether it me material goods, your talents, your health or your resources. The best kind of happiness, true joy is found in simple pleasures, love and peace with your life and the people in it! And if you are brave and keep the faith and your courage up when things go wrong, nothing will destroy or crush you! Your psyche will stay in tact.
As my husband Mike’s grandmother Winifred use to say, “It’s a great life, if you don’t weaken.” That sounds like her generation. But it works for every generation.
Weakening to her meant giving up I believe, on yourself and on hope and on faith and God and believing you could carry on. On believing that things would all work out. Don’t weaken in your resolve to have a good life. To make your life everything it can be by embracing the possibilities. Embracing faith, embracing hope, embracing love, embracing God and those whom you love.
It IS a great life!
Libby Baker Sweiger 