Encouragement

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Pondering about this subject I realized how much directions have become a way of life for everything today, versus how it was even 50 years ago.

My grandparents, who were farmers, they got their directions generally by word of mouth. They went to town in the summer months weekly to sell extra eggs or produce and to buy basic essentials like flour, sugar or materials for clothes, because they grew or made everything else that was needed.

My grandfather usually played checkers on the court house square and was updated on the latest products for growing things or concerning the political happening of the day. Local farmers shared where was the best place to buy or sell the products they grew as well. And if one of them needed some help in an area they also shared that need and could always expect help to be available

Now my grandmother did her shopping and caught up on the latest new recipes going around or the latest gossip even at times in the community. It was a social event in some ways; for her to get away from the farm a few hours, plus she also got to visit her grown children and catch up on what was going on in their life. She always was able to bring them some home grown fresh produce as well. Motherhood never changes in that form anyway. But life was fairly simple in the day to day happenings then.

Fast forward 50 years and we are bombarded with directions for everything from raising our children to operating almost anything in this High-Tech world we live in. Often the major problem comes in the directions being too few or too much for us to comprehend the instructions.

One of my pet peeves is the constant use of three to four initials that are used for computer lingo, like we all are suppose to know them. I can’t seem to find the book listing them all, and when I do discover their meaning, it is hard to recall their meaning when a crisis seems to arise and ask you about them. It took me weeks to learn how to copy and paste on the PC, and I already knew how in elementary school. What a bummer, I sure need a printed guide to refer to at these times, hint to all those techs in the know; here is your opportunity to publish a best seller. You know the ones I’m talking about, the Isp’s , Jip, and five thousand other initials one needs to know at various times…..I have found I need LOL(lots of luck) in finding the answers at times being behind a few decades. Nothing against those who are of course, but they have to remember we are of the old variety and need to be booted up daily in more ways than one it seems.

So I just plug along like the proverbial turtle running against the rabbit, but I do finally get there it seems and that can only be credited to the Lord’s mercy for persistence on my part.. At times like this when my mind wanders back I often think of the simplicity when God either spoke audibly to man or wrote the instructions on stone tablets. Simple to the point instructions would be nice again.
This reminds me of the acrostic word BIBLE ; that some clever soul thought up:
B: Basic
I: Instructions
B: Before
L: Leaving
E: Earth

Or the word GRACE
G: God’s
R: Riches
A: At
C: Christ’s
E: Expense

Now those are instructions we can easily relate to and understand if given a chance. I’m sure you have heard the old saying; if all else fails read the directions? This old world definitely shows that we need to do more reading of the directions from above that was sent to all of God’s children. But I sure could use some directions on earthly things now!
John 3:16

©sue shields 2004
www.sueshields.com

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