When I was a kid, life seemed so much different. Maybe it was because life had a simpler feel to it and was a bit more structured. In fact, it seemed structured right down to the seasons. Yes, seasons even seemed to be more definite and predictable back then.
Structure also carried over into our daily lives as there were definite meal times and rules that guided us through our days and kept our body and mind in tune with the world around us. We got up at certain times, ate at certain times, went to work and school at certain times, played at certain times, and slept at certain times. We ate our meals as a family, did our homework, and had bedtimes. Also, because there were only three tv networks and three tv channels back then, we even knew what we were watching on tv each night. Monday night was Gunsmoke, Wednesday night was The Virginian, and the rest of the week was no different.
Rules also played an important part in our lives. For instance, we knew that if we got in trouble at school, it didn't matter what it was, we were also getting it double at home. We knew to respect adults, and not to lie. We were taught to own up to our mistakes, to do our homework before we went out to play, and to always come in when the street lights came on. We also knew that if our mom called us into lunch or supper, we best come running immediately. Yes, moms would stand out on the porch or in the yard and yell your name, and you knew your mom's voice and you knew you better be home as fast as your legs could carry you if you heard it. This system left little room for mistakes so you better be within earshot.
On weekends, Saturday mornings were ruled by cartoons, and possibly cereal in front of the tv...if you weren't a messy eater. No kid missed Saturday morning cartoons, and then mid-morning, as cartoons wound down, if you were anywhere between 10 and 18, you watched American Bandstand. It was literally a ritual. After Bandstand though, the tv went off and if you lived in my house, you picked up a dust rag, pulled out the vacuum and you did your weekend room cleaning and housework or if you were a boy (yes, we were a sexist world) you mowed the lawn and did yard work. If your parents were even slightly cool though, they would let you do these chores while listening to the transistor radio (it made the work a little less of a chore.) After the house and yard passed inspection, the rest of Saturday was for friends, fun, and family. This could include anything from a sleepover to a BBQ to a drive-in movie, and just about anything in between.
When Sunday arrived, our structured lives and bodies, instinctively knew that it was time to slow down and rest a bit. Our weekdays and Saturday were filled and we were always busy, whether it was necessary stuff or fun stuff, but Sundays were different. On Sundays, no stores, gas stations, or businesses of any kind were open. In fact, the streets were usually empty of traffic except for those going to church or heading over to see other family. Sundays were just a quiet and recuperative day.
Sunday mornings started with breakfast and then off to church without exception. God gave us Monday through Saturday and we gave Him Sunday. After church, we would pull out the Sunday paper. It was a family event as it would end up spread out all over the living room. It was a really great day if you were the first one to get to the Sunday comics as they always had a section of their own, but if you were too slow, then you might get stuck with the "local news," or the "society page," until the comics were available. Once the paper had been read and any interesting articles discussed, you would help mom in the kitchen. There was always a big Sunday meal that most of us called "dinner" or Sunday dinner. This meal always included roast or chicken or some other special once-a-week fare, with plenty of salads, sides, and desserts. We would eat until we were stuffed, clean the kitchen, and then enjoy our afternoon.
Sunday afternoons were for relaxing, resting, and recharging. You spent time with family, either in the yard or around the house. Maybe it was a game of checkers with your sister, watching the football game with your dad, playing kickball in the yard with your brother, or finding a nice quiet spot and reading your favorite book (that was usually me). On occasions, there was also the impromptu nap, that would sneak up on you, and leave you confused and wondering what day it was when you awoke. Whatever your choice of activity though, it always felt laid back and easy going. For whatever reason, Sundays just always went at a slower pace.
Sunday evenings were sandwiches or leftovers and The Wonderful World of Disney, on tv. Afterward, you got everything ready for the next day, got yourself ready for bed, and then you were off to sleep in preparation for Monday, where it started all over again. Wow! Those were some good days.
I was thinking about all of this in church this morning. Maybe it was because my brain was having trouble focusing as it was flooded with all that I have to do this week and all that I felt I had to do today. I was feeling overwhelmed and so extremely compelled to get it all done, for fear that my lack of completion might cause the world to end or some other equally fantastical and guilt-producing outcome. Even as I thought about it, I knew how ridiculous I was being. I just felt though, as if I was falling behind in a game that I never seem to be able to keep up with. Then suddenly, I was thinking about the past. I was remembering childhood days and just how simple it all seemed back then. Oh, what I wouldn't give.......
Was it really that simple back then, or was that just my child's view of it? Maybe a bit of both. As a kid, we see what our parents want us to see, therefore, if they want us to see the world in a simpler way, we were given simple rules and simple structure, and the harder stuff was withheld from our view. On the other hand, back then, I really do think that the world was simpler. It wasn't so full of information and media giving us conflicting stories and constantly pushing us to do the next bigger and better thing. We weren't constantly tantalized with products and gadgets that we were coerced into believing we couldn't live without, thus causing us to have to work more hours to keep up with our desire for more stuff. Our parents were post WWII kids and they believed that you made money but you didn't spend beyond your needs, you didn't borrow money and if you didn't have the money, you didn't buy the stuff. The money issues of today, credit cards, being upside down on loans, and the constant payments to everyone and his brother, were almost non-existent when I was a kid, thus the money worries that plague our modern world, were not a thing back then. When I was a kid, the world wasn't open 24 hours a day, with chrome and neon beckoning us in. Instead, our world was smaller, our tastes and desires were simpler, our values were more centered and we seemed to understand that you worked hard and played hard Monday through Saturday, but on Sunday, you took that day to pray, relax, recharge, and just plain rest.
So I came home, and I cleared all of my "have to dos" off my plate for today, and I decided that my only job for today is to rest. Maybe I will watch a movie with the grandkids or maybe I will find that quiet space and curl up with a book. If I am lucky, maybe I will even get an impromptu nap and wake up confused, bewildered, and blessedly rested. Whatever I do today though, it will be with gratitude that once again, God has listened to my heart and guided me right where I need to be and with the knowledge that sometimes, the simplest things in life, are really all we need.
So until next time.....may you enjoy the simpler things, may you feel gratitude for all you have, and may an impromptu nap also be in your future!
