Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Young Men & Gray Heads


We live in a area surrounded (albeit sparsely) by neighbors.  Many are elderly, without family close-by and often in need of a bit of help.  One dear little old lady is a phenomenal gardener with a weathered face and leather tough hands.  As active and strong as she is, she is frustratingly incapable of doing simple things like tuning up her lawn mower every spring or repairing her rototiller.  Unloading a pickup full of saw chips, which in her younger years would have only constituted a couple of hours work is now an insurmountable task.  Our neighbor, whose knowledge in all things growing is unparalleled, has lived to see her body betray her while her mind remains yet keen.  She is at a point in her life when the wisdom of her years yearns to be complimented with the strength of youth.

Our children are young.  They are strong and capable.  Their strength and energy require an outlet.  We could direct them to a video game or an amusement park.  We could encourage them to spend their youth pursuing self-fulfillment and taking every advantage of their "carefree" years.  We think there is a better way.

Children and young adults have so much to learn about life.  They haven't lived long enough to have gained wisdom and insight - they need older, wiser people for that.  They long to be useful - to be competent and needed.  And they don't get that from video games, television or amusement parks.  They don't learn to be self-sacrificing, productive members of society by ordering their lives to serve themselves.

As the weather turns warm, our phone rings off the hook.  "May I speak to Master Hand Grenade?", "Is Miss Serenity available?", "I have a job that I think Princess Dragon Snack would be perfect for...". - our neighbors, calling on the strength of our children.  It is the best of both worlds, our children lend their youth and strength to our neighbors in exchange for a little bit of their wisdom.  It is the perfect symbiotic relationship - the old and the young, working shoulder to shoulder, head to head.

"Mrs. Brown" (our dear little old lady neighbor) has been mowing her lawn, thanks to Master Hand Grenade's thorough mechanic work, and the carburetor will soon be replaced on her rototiller, allowing her to begin spring garden work.  The saw chips have been carefully spread throughout her garden beds (thank you Miss Serenity) and her raspberry patch has been well-weeded.

It is not only "Mrs. Brown" who reaps the benefit of working with our children - it is our children who reap the benefit of working with "Mrs. Brown".  Miss Serenity has had the opportunity to learn about gardening from one of the best gardeners in our area.  Master Hand Grenade has learned much about small engine mechanics as he has striven to keep "Mrs. Brown's" equipment in good running order.  They have learned that serving others is always more satisfying than serving themselves.  They have acquired skills and discipline that will serve them throughout their entire lives.

Youth is not a time to obsessively cater to self-gratification.  Youth is the time to lay the foundation for life.  And the foundation that is built in youth is the foundation that forms our families and our nation.  Build well.

18 comments:

  1. I love working with our elders. I've learned so much from them. It's great your children get to work with Mrs. Brown. I know she appreciates it deeply.

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  2. Enola,

    (captianpunch)

    I just got home from the salt mines and sat down to eat a hot-pocket and drink a pabst, when i realized that i was out of camo netting and hoppes....Any idea where there is a good sale going on?

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  3. bravo Enola gay...excellent piece of wisdom. I was raised this way....and I raised my children this way....from putting the widows hair in pincurls for a quarter every Saturday morning to helping in the gardens and hay fields..it only helped to make us kinder, stronger, considerate for others and more respectful for ourselves.

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  4. We are also helping out our elders. But our elders are actually stronger than I
    am. But she had to fly to Califorina to take care of her 94 year mother, who has
    really gone down hill. In fact she needs your prayers
    But I can take care of her dog and 2 chickens free for her. She is retired and
    had to fly standby. I guess that we all do what we can do for the elders.
    Blessings
    Debby

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  5. Well said, Enola. If only ALL the young people of today would take on the task of helping the elders in their own area; how much better our world would be (and their futures).

    Great article ~~ Sandi

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  6. Hi Enola,
    You are an inspiration to all in child rearing. I truly wish more people were raising their children as you and your husband do. Unfortunately, many youngsters are being raised to be self-serving, rude, and thoughtless.
    Blessings to you.

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  7. Enola,

    (captianpunch)

    I just decided not to go into a mind-numbing rant that has nothing to do with your article....Oil workers are cool, welfare people suck! Out!

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  8. It is most unfortunate that far too many children are the offspring of parents who are "self-serving". For many people the concept of serving others is foreign. That is why less than 9% of the US population IS or HAS been in the military. Service is apparently for "other people". We can serve in many ways, but it's certainly not a priority for far too many. Service is giving and doing, and that is anathema to the "take, take, take" culture that is pervasive in our society.

    Don't get me wrong, I don't consider military service the only way to serve, and I'd be far from excited about serving under the current commander-in-thief. Enola is spot on, it's the way we live our lives and it is what makes our lives worth living. What good is a present that we can not give?

    I hope everyone is having a blessed spring.

    sidetracksusie

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    Replies
    1. You arent serving the cinc, its the county and its ideals you serve.

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    2. "serving under the cinc" -- I get that you are not serving him, but serving UNDER him, which I wrote, with his policies affecting your ability to do your job and when and where you are deployed and as well as being put in additional harm due to the ROE policies the administration has put into effect, either directly or by their influence.

      I can't remember one instance that my grandfather, father, FIL, brothers or husband, all combat veterans thought about ideals while under fire. They implemented their training and fought to the best of their ability under whichever administration that was in charge at the time, rules of engagement. I guess that was my point. Sorry if it wasn't clear as mud.

      My husband and brother were in the SF under Clinton. They went on more missions and trained less, all of which the public was unaware of. His wars were off the books as well and it wasn't until 3 TRILLION dollars was discovered unaccounted for when GWBush took office that this off-the-book-and out of the public scrutiny was put into daylight. The media wasn't interested in it however, they were busy undermining Bush.

      Happy Mother's Day to all.

      sts

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  9. People who serve in the military are nothing but fodder for the government - very sad but true. It shouldn't be that way at all.

    Good for your kids. Sounds like they will grow up to be caring adults.

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    Replies
    1. Fodder? I guess that would depend on the country you are serving. What is your point?

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    2. well since i think the draft should be brought back as "freedom is not free" and everyone should serve 2 years. i did 21 years so i guess you got your 2 year debt paid by me.

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  10. Beautifully written and all so true. You and yours are truly blessed and on the right path. Thanks for sharing some simple truisms.

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  11. Enola,

    (captaincrunch)

    The Angels are Bowling!

    "Oil Field Worker" and myself were standing in his garage talking and we had a series of thunderstorms and rain come through that night."Oil Field workers" three and half year old daughter (Ladybug) is afraid of thunder. Every time the thunder sounded off' Ladybug ran with her hands covered over her ears crying looking for her Daddy.

    Daddy' picked her up and placed' his face real close to hers and said its ok' The Angels are bowling. Ladybug stopped crying and said in a weak and scared voice "Ok"
    He gave her a big hug and put Ladybug back down and Lady ran back inside the house to her mother and little sister.

    That was about one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. Im proud to say that "Oil Field worker" is one of my best friends.

    I made a new friend also recently standing in line to get extra ammo. A 77 year old man who was is retired of course and we have been out shooting twice already. He's a was a very high ranking "public official" and has Doctorate (PH.D) in his field. I like talking with and learning from' much older and experienced people. If this guy needs any help with anything, I will of course help him out, but he was doing ok' shooting one of my AR-15's. He never shot an AR before and he was smiling like a eight year old kid with a new toy.

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    Replies
    1. Enola, Sidetracksusie and other Moms out there.

      (captaincrunch)


      Happy Mothers Day!

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    2. Thanks, captaincrunch!

      Good for you going out shooting with the "experienced population members"!

      We'll be there soon, won't we?

      sts

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    3. Hey SidetrackSusie

      blast me an e-mail

      coffeeinjection@yahoo.com

      Delete