I watched another episode of The Little House on the Prairie with mom last night. It was one starring Patricia Neal, who played a single mother with three small children. It opens with her visiting the doctor, and finding out bad news. She goes back to her farm where Charles Ingles is plowing her field for her, and she walks up to him, thanks him for his hard work, and then says: “Charles, I’m going to die. Soon.”
Charles does the expected questioning of her: “Are you sure?” And after she responds, he doesn’t know what to say, but just hangs his head. And then Patricia Neal says in a firm voice: “Charles, I need your help now, not your sympathy. I’ve got a lot of things to do and not much time. I need to find someone to take care of my children.” And Charles promises to help her. She eventually presents her petition to the little town church congregation that Sunday, and says “I know it takes 9 months to make a child, so I don’t expect you to take on three right now, so think on it.”
It’s an amazing episode of the strength of the mother, the children, and her fellow neighbors in facing up to the inevitability of death. There are many stories of faith conveyed among the people and the children, and of trust in God. At the episode’s end, at the graveside, the pastor reads a short note the mother had asked to be read “loudly, pastor, and don’t mumble. They’ll need to hear this.”
And so he read: “Remember me with smiles and laughter. If you can only remember me with tears, then don’t remember me at all.” And then the episode closes, and you never really find out which family agreed to adopt her children, because that wasn’t important to the lesson being taught. I enjoyed that episode very much; I had written about it previously here, a while back. It seems appropriate to glance at it again.
Orig: 7/19/09
Mom likes watching animals and little kids on television. Last week we began watching some re-runs of The Little House On The Prairie. We watched an episode where a neighbor woman, whose husband died, works the farm and cares for her 3 kids. Then she visits a doctor and finds out she is dying. She comes home that night and tells her children: “Soon I am going to be in heaven with your father.” Her oldest boy cries: “Oh God. How could this be happening?” The mother chastises him: “Don’t you take the name of God in vain. And you stop crying right now. I am going to a wonderful place; if you are crying it is not for me, it is for yourself. And I thought I taught you better than to be selfish.” The boy apologizes, and everyone hugs.
At the church next Sunday, the mother asks for a family to volunteer to take in her children, when the time comes. After church, the mother invites the neighbor Engels family on a picnic: “It’s a nice day.” During the picnic, the kids are playing and the mother gets up to join them, but Mrs Engels asks if she is well enough. She responds: “I want my children to remember me laughing; I’ve got to show them the right example.” And all the adults join in on the games.
Meanwhile, young Laura Engels sits alone next to a tree. Her dad comes over and asks what’s wrong. She responds: “Look at her, dad. She’s dying, and she’s playing like it’s not important.” Her dad says: “Yes, she’s dying and will be going to heaven. You know that, and that is not a bad thing.” Laura then asks: “How old is she?” “About 35.” “You and mom are in your thirty’s. What would happen to us if you died?” And then dad replies: “Laura, you can spend your whole life worrying about things you cannot change. And before you know it, your life comes to an end, and you have never lived it. Look at them playing there. That’s what life is about: Laughing and loving and knowing they’re not really gone when they die.”
After we watched that show, I flipped the channel to the news, and immediately saw the images of the 5 teens killed at the train crossing. I wondered if any of their families had watched that Little House On The Prairie episode. I hope so, but probably not. I hope that someone, somewhere, gave them that message about what life is about. And I hope it gives them peace.
We’ve watched a few more episodes of the series since that day last week. Each one had a wonderful moral message, one which could be understood by watching children and adults alike. They were each an excellent teaching moment, an opportunity for parents to talk about and children to see and learn some of the very serious, very important moral lessons of life.
I don’t remember watching much of The Little House On The Prairie series when it first aired. Maybe I was busy with school, maybe with work. But I now know I missed something then. The few television series which I glance at today usually have parents and children yelling at each other, hating each other, belittling each other. Aren’t there any homes where parents still talk to their children, teach them, hug them, talk to them about God? Pray together? I hope so, but they’re certainly not shown as “reality” television.
Some people describe the old family television series from the ‘50’s and ‘60’s as “fantasy families”. Well, perhaps America needs more fantasy, and less reality. It certainly needs more morality on television. Meanwhile, my time with mom has me watching the re-runs of Little House On The Prairie.
I’m not too old to learn from their moral lessons; I’m not too old to be reminded of timeless wisdom. And to give thanks to God for my family.
When was the last time you watched a television show which inspired you to pray, and give thanks for your blessings?
Showing posts with label Little House on the Prairie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Little House on the Prairie. Show all posts
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, May 23, 2011
To The People of Joplin
Coincidence or Plan? And if a plan, whose?
On the Monday night episode of The Little House on the Prairie, on the Hallmark Channel, a tornado struck the Ingles farm. All the family was safe, including the dog, but not all the farm animals. The house was damaged heavily, as was the barn, but the entire crop was gone. And Charles was devastated. Later, in town, he tells his friends: “Find a buyer for my farm; I’m going home to Wisconsin in three days. I give up.” And he was beyond any of their consolations.
Little Laura goes to church early the next morning and tells the pastor that they won’t be coming to his Sunday service. “Pa says he has to fix the wagon so we can leave. But pastor, I don’t think that’s the reason he’s not coming to church. I think he’s mad at God.” And then the pastor and Laura pray together.
An old man and his wife show up at the Ingles farm and offer to buy it. “We once lived here, and we too were wiped out by a tornado, but now we want to come back. We’ve always missed this place.” He tells Charles he will meet his price if Charles is willing to stay on for a few days to help with repairs – “I’ll buy the materials.” And Charles agrees.
Much of the rest of the episode shows the old couple looking forward to the future, but dreaming of the happy days of the past, while the Ingles family is also considering the future, in fear and sadness.
One night the old man asks Laura if she says her night prayers. Laura answers: “not lately. I asked God to help my pa, but He didn’t, so I figure He’s not listening.” The old man smiles, “Is that really true? I think you were really asking God to help you, so you wouldn’t have to move, weren’t you?” And then Laura slowly nods. “You know,” he says, “God doesn’t mind you asking Him for things, and He may give you what you ask for, if it’s right for you. But He doesn’t like people lying to Him. So why don’t you kneel down now, and tell Him the truth of things.” And she did.
As the days pass, Charles has time to think. He remembers all the good times, and the people of the town. Meanwhile, the old folks remember the past too, and think that maybe they are too old to start farming again. On the last day, Charles realizes he has made a mistake. He also realizes that HE made the mistake, because he made the decision to sell without asking his wife or family.
In the end, the old man and his wife realize they can’t go back, and that the Ingles are making the same mistake they did --- and now regret. So when Charles tells them that he decided to stay on in Walnut Grove with his family, and will start over somewhere else, the old man and his wife look at one another, and say they’ve changed their minds also. Then Charles is happy, but asks: “What about the materials you bought; I can’t afford to pay you back right now.” And the old man answers: “Just make a donation to the church, when you can. We were married there, and we owe an extra thanks to God for all His blessings.”
The moral of the story is that if you don’t give up on life, you won’t have regrets later. You’ll never regret fighting through difficult times, together. Oh, --- and never stop praying.
A tornado, disaster, fear and an easy decision to give up --- and a lesson on the importance of prayer. I wonder if the people of Joplin, Missouri were watching tonight. I hope so.
Was the episode’s airing tonight a coincidence or plan? As for me, I don’t believe in coincidences.
People of Joplin, we will be helping you in every way we can. We’ll be praying for you. Don’t give up.
Do Not Be Anxious.
On the Monday night episode of The Little House on the Prairie, on the Hallmark Channel, a tornado struck the Ingles farm. All the family was safe, including the dog, but not all the farm animals. The house was damaged heavily, as was the barn, but the entire crop was gone. And Charles was devastated. Later, in town, he tells his friends: “Find a buyer for my farm; I’m going home to Wisconsin in three days. I give up.” And he was beyond any of their consolations.
Little Laura goes to church early the next morning and tells the pastor that they won’t be coming to his Sunday service. “Pa says he has to fix the wagon so we can leave. But pastor, I don’t think that’s the reason he’s not coming to church. I think he’s mad at God.” And then the pastor and Laura pray together.
An old man and his wife show up at the Ingles farm and offer to buy it. “We once lived here, and we too were wiped out by a tornado, but now we want to come back. We’ve always missed this place.” He tells Charles he will meet his price if Charles is willing to stay on for a few days to help with repairs – “I’ll buy the materials.” And Charles agrees.
Much of the rest of the episode shows the old couple looking forward to the future, but dreaming of the happy days of the past, while the Ingles family is also considering the future, in fear and sadness.
One night the old man asks Laura if she says her night prayers. Laura answers: “not lately. I asked God to help my pa, but He didn’t, so I figure He’s not listening.” The old man smiles, “Is that really true? I think you were really asking God to help you, so you wouldn’t have to move, weren’t you?” And then Laura slowly nods. “You know,” he says, “God doesn’t mind you asking Him for things, and He may give you what you ask for, if it’s right for you. But He doesn’t like people lying to Him. So why don’t you kneel down now, and tell Him the truth of things.” And she did.
As the days pass, Charles has time to think. He remembers all the good times, and the people of the town. Meanwhile, the old folks remember the past too, and think that maybe they are too old to start farming again. On the last day, Charles realizes he has made a mistake. He also realizes that HE made the mistake, because he made the decision to sell without asking his wife or family.
In the end, the old man and his wife realize they can’t go back, and that the Ingles are making the same mistake they did --- and now regret. So when Charles tells them that he decided to stay on in Walnut Grove with his family, and will start over somewhere else, the old man and his wife look at one another, and say they’ve changed their minds also. Then Charles is happy, but asks: “What about the materials you bought; I can’t afford to pay you back right now.” And the old man answers: “Just make a donation to the church, when you can. We were married there, and we owe an extra thanks to God for all His blessings.”
The moral of the story is that if you don’t give up on life, you won’t have regrets later. You’ll never regret fighting through difficult times, together. Oh, --- and never stop praying.
A tornado, disaster, fear and an easy decision to give up --- and a lesson on the importance of prayer. I wonder if the people of Joplin, Missouri were watching tonight. I hope so.
Was the episode’s airing tonight a coincidence or plan? As for me, I don’t believe in coincidences.
People of Joplin, we will be helping you in every way we can. We’ll be praying for you. Don’t give up.
Do Not Be Anxious.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
A Simple Child of God
On a quiet holiday weekend, just mom and I, there’s really not much to do. Together, we sometimes both enjoy a television show (especially one with children or animals). Yesterday we watched a 2-hour episode of Little House on the Prairie and, as I’ve described here in the past, the show often tells stories of great faith and wisdom. It’s one of a few series where prayer was a regular part of the show. This episode, in particular, had prayer as its primary focus:
Charles Engles, after 3 girls, finally had a son, and he was very happy. But the baby proved sickly, and within days the situation grew dire. Mom and dad asked the girls to pray for their new brother. Kneeling at her bedside that night, however, young Laura didn’t mention the boy, and her older sister, Mary, asked her why. Laura replied that dad was paying so much attention to him that “pa’s probably praying more than enough for all of us,” besides, “he doesn’t really care about us anymore. All he thinks about is his son.” Mary threatens to tell their parents what Laura had said, but like a good sister she doesn’t.
The son soon died.
Laura was distraught for weeks over the loss, and her self-perceived role in it. She went to her pastor and asked him: “Your sermon today said God can make all things possible. How can you get a miracle? How do you pray hard enough?” The pastor thought and then answered: “God doesn’t guarantee miracles, Laura, but I’ve found that the closer you are to God, the more likely He is to listen.” Laura smiled at that answer, and went off to play.
That night Laura is shown running away from home. She travels off to a high cliff, and begins climbing until she gets to the top. There she innocently prays: “God, I came up here so I could be closer to you, so you could hear me better. Lord, my father needs a son, like you had God. I was thinking, you already have a son, and so maybe you’d like a daughter, like me. And then you could send my brother back to pa, and then you’d both be happy. Please, Lord.”
Meanwhile, Charles read the note that his daughter had left on the fireplace mantle, and hears the whole story from her older sister. He sets out to search for young Laura, with the help of his neighbor Mr. Edwards. They don’t know where to begin.
The next morning, at the top of the cliff, Laura meets a kindly man. He asks her what she’s doing so high up and so far away. She tells him she’s on a trip, but says “I’m not sure where I’m going yet.” He offers her food for the journey, and while he’s eating he starts talking aloud to God. Young Laura is astounded: “God talks to you? I talked to him last night but nothing happened.” The man tells her, “Well, you have to be patient. You know God has lots of children to listen to; he’s a busy man” As they sit and chat, the man makes Laura a wooden cross, and carves her name into it. Unfortunately, later while getting water, she drops it and it is lost.
After she gets more comfortable with him, Laura tells the man what she asked of God, and why. “I guess it’s okay for me to tell you, since you know God so well.” Laura tells him she’s worried because God is not answering her prayer, perhaps it’s because she did such a bad thing. Maybe God doesn’t like her anymore. The man replies that he’s sure that isn’t true. “Even if you do bad things, like everyone does sometimes, you can do good things to make things right with God, good things for others. That makes God happy, you know, because he’s so sad sometimes because people ignore one another.”
Laura walks away to go and pray some more. The man looks up toward heaven and says: “A child like that makes it all worthwhile, doesn’t it.”
Back at the search party, Charles and Mr. Edwards grow weary. They don’t know where to look next. Then they stop to water the horses, and Charles spots a stick floating down the stream. It’s the wooden cross with the word “Laura” carved into it. He smiles and says a prayer of thanks. “It’s her. I know it,” he says. “Let’s look upstream.”
Laura and her new-found friend continue to talk. “I just don’t understand. I prayed as hard as I could. Maybe he can’t forgive me.” “No, he’s very forgiving. He has to be or else he’d have no one to talk to!” Laura thinks that maybe he still isn’t hearing her, and perhaps she needs to go to a higher mountain, so she can get closer to him. As she starts to gather her things the man says: “Wait! Maybe we just need to get his attention better. Let’s build a great big fire, one he can’t fail to see. That’ll get his attention.” And so they set about to gather wood for a fire.
The fire burns brightly, and the man and Laura comment that surely God will see this. Down in the valley, Charles and Mr. Edwards see smoke coming from the top of the nearby cliff, and they start up.
Laura is praying again, “Please God, answer me.” Then in the distance she hears: “Laura!” It is her father calling out her name. The man sitting near her says: “He has answered your prayer; he sent you your pa.” “But it’s not what I prayed for,” she says. “Pa needs a son.” “No child, your pa wants and needs you, and God sent him here. How else would your pa have found you?”
“How can I be sure,” Laura asks. “I know,” he replies, “because He has told me so.” And Laura smiles.
Her pa and Mr. Edwards come up, and there are lots of hugs, kisses, and words of love. It is a happy ending. Then Laura tells her pa about her friend, the one who can talk to God, but when she goes to find him, he is gone. Charles and Mr. Edwards look at one another, wondering if she had made up the story. Then Charles looks down in his hand --- and sees the cross.
Well, I don’t have to explain the morals and implications to you. The story tells these things very well on its own. No commentary is needed.
Considering all the television shows being produced today, I’m happy we can still turn to these old shows, these shows which are not just mindless entertainment, but which also exist to teach and reaffirm important things in life, and the most important Being in life. We can go back and look at these old shows and perhaps for a time feel good about things, and maybe we could pray that God inspires someone, somewhere, to use these shows as a template for future shows. I don’t have great expectations of this happening though, but who knows? --- “Be patient. You know God has lots of children to listen to.”
And so although I read in this morning’s Wall Street Journal a review of Richard Dawkin’s new book, in which he “explains” that: “spontaneous creation from nothing is possible,” I wonder if that spontaneous event can answer a prayer. I have read and studied many things of science, but if it takes being a simple, naïve child to believe in God, then that is what I wish to be.
Charles Engles, after 3 girls, finally had a son, and he was very happy. But the baby proved sickly, and within days the situation grew dire. Mom and dad asked the girls to pray for their new brother. Kneeling at her bedside that night, however, young Laura didn’t mention the boy, and her older sister, Mary, asked her why. Laura replied that dad was paying so much attention to him that “pa’s probably praying more than enough for all of us,” besides, “he doesn’t really care about us anymore. All he thinks about is his son.” Mary threatens to tell their parents what Laura had said, but like a good sister she doesn’t.
The son soon died.
Laura was distraught for weeks over the loss, and her self-perceived role in it. She went to her pastor and asked him: “Your sermon today said God can make all things possible. How can you get a miracle? How do you pray hard enough?” The pastor thought and then answered: “God doesn’t guarantee miracles, Laura, but I’ve found that the closer you are to God, the more likely He is to listen.” Laura smiled at that answer, and went off to play.
That night Laura is shown running away from home. She travels off to a high cliff, and begins climbing until she gets to the top. There she innocently prays: “God, I came up here so I could be closer to you, so you could hear me better. Lord, my father needs a son, like you had God. I was thinking, you already have a son, and so maybe you’d like a daughter, like me. And then you could send my brother back to pa, and then you’d both be happy. Please, Lord.”
Meanwhile, Charles read the note that his daughter had left on the fireplace mantle, and hears the whole story from her older sister. He sets out to search for young Laura, with the help of his neighbor Mr. Edwards. They don’t know where to begin.
The next morning, at the top of the cliff, Laura meets a kindly man. He asks her what she’s doing so high up and so far away. She tells him she’s on a trip, but says “I’m not sure where I’m going yet.” He offers her food for the journey, and while he’s eating he starts talking aloud to God. Young Laura is astounded: “God talks to you? I talked to him last night but nothing happened.” The man tells her, “Well, you have to be patient. You know God has lots of children to listen to; he’s a busy man” As they sit and chat, the man makes Laura a wooden cross, and carves her name into it. Unfortunately, later while getting water, she drops it and it is lost.
After she gets more comfortable with him, Laura tells the man what she asked of God, and why. “I guess it’s okay for me to tell you, since you know God so well.” Laura tells him she’s worried because God is not answering her prayer, perhaps it’s because she did such a bad thing. Maybe God doesn’t like her anymore. The man replies that he’s sure that isn’t true. “Even if you do bad things, like everyone does sometimes, you can do good things to make things right with God, good things for others. That makes God happy, you know, because he’s so sad sometimes because people ignore one another.”
Laura walks away to go and pray some more. The man looks up toward heaven and says: “A child like that makes it all worthwhile, doesn’t it.”
Back at the search party, Charles and Mr. Edwards grow weary. They don’t know where to look next. Then they stop to water the horses, and Charles spots a stick floating down the stream. It’s the wooden cross with the word “Laura” carved into it. He smiles and says a prayer of thanks. “It’s her. I know it,” he says. “Let’s look upstream.”
Laura and her new-found friend continue to talk. “I just don’t understand. I prayed as hard as I could. Maybe he can’t forgive me.” “No, he’s very forgiving. He has to be or else he’d have no one to talk to!” Laura thinks that maybe he still isn’t hearing her, and perhaps she needs to go to a higher mountain, so she can get closer to him. As she starts to gather her things the man says: “Wait! Maybe we just need to get his attention better. Let’s build a great big fire, one he can’t fail to see. That’ll get his attention.” And so they set about to gather wood for a fire.
The fire burns brightly, and the man and Laura comment that surely God will see this. Down in the valley, Charles and Mr. Edwards see smoke coming from the top of the nearby cliff, and they start up.
Laura is praying again, “Please God, answer me.” Then in the distance she hears: “Laura!” It is her father calling out her name. The man sitting near her says: “He has answered your prayer; he sent you your pa.” “But it’s not what I prayed for,” she says. “Pa needs a son.” “No child, your pa wants and needs you, and God sent him here. How else would your pa have found you?”
“How can I be sure,” Laura asks. “I know,” he replies, “because He has told me so.” And Laura smiles.
Her pa and Mr. Edwards come up, and there are lots of hugs, kisses, and words of love. It is a happy ending. Then Laura tells her pa about her friend, the one who can talk to God, but when she goes to find him, he is gone. Charles and Mr. Edwards look at one another, wondering if she had made up the story. Then Charles looks down in his hand --- and sees the cross.
Well, I don’t have to explain the morals and implications to you. The story tells these things very well on its own. No commentary is needed.
Considering all the television shows being produced today, I’m happy we can still turn to these old shows, these shows which are not just mindless entertainment, but which also exist to teach and reaffirm important things in life, and the most important Being in life. We can go back and look at these old shows and perhaps for a time feel good about things, and maybe we could pray that God inspires someone, somewhere, to use these shows as a template for future shows. I don’t have great expectations of this happening though, but who knows? --- “Be patient. You know God has lots of children to listen to.”
And so although I read in this morning’s Wall Street Journal a review of Richard Dawkin’s new book, in which he “explains” that: “spontaneous creation from nothing is possible,” I wonder if that spontaneous event can answer a prayer. I have read and studied many things of science, but if it takes being a simple, naïve child to believe in God, then that is what I wish to be.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Black Skin … “Those People”
There has been much in the “news” in recent days about who’s a racist, what they “REALLY meant to say”, what they “really DID say (only not verbally)”, and offense and defense and hard feelings non-stop. It reminds me of the games we used to play in the school yard, and the names we called each other – and how quickly we forgot them.
So it was somewhat of a relief to see that the Little House on the Prairie episode this Friday, and the Gospel this Sunday, were both on point – and talk about REAL racism. (As you remember, mom is only interested in game shows and movies with kids or animals on the television, hence my watching LHP re-runs --- but perhaps with a new insight).
This particular Little House episode centered on the rich Mrs Olsen, and her focus on things of the world, and the values she puts on things and people. The episode starts with the only black man in the town of Walnut Grove desiring to join the Christian church there. The church elders vote on membership, and Mrs Olsen (and the mousey husband she led) had always voted against admission of the man: “Let ‘Those People’ form their own church for voodoo or whatever”. Her very real racism would not be moved by any rational arguments by the other townspeople.
Later in the episode, Mrs Olsen donates money to help build a school for the blind in Walnut Grove – and a big plaque for the building with her name on it. When she goes to welcome the teachers and blind children in another town, she is surprised (and disgusted) that half are black. On the way back to Walnut Grove, Mrs Olsen deliberately stays away from the black children. And one particularly bright young man notices her animosity, and doesn’t understand. One evening he asks the Christian black man from Walnut Grove: “Why doesn’t she like me?” He responds that “she doesn’t like people whose skin is a different color.” The young blind child then innocently asks: “What is color?” The man responds that when some people look at other people, the color of their skin is the only thing they see; but you (despite being blind) are able to see people much clearer than they can.
Mrs. Olsen overhears this innocent conversation and is struck to the heart. And she sees the child for what he is: a child of God.
Later, when she returns home to her husband, she repeats the exchange’s wisdom as being her own insight, and publically chastises the remaining bigot in town, as she hugs the little black child and shakes the hand of her new, black, Christian friend. Regardless of the source of this change in her heart, her surprised husband looks up to heaven and says aloud: “Praise God”.
Praise God, indeed, for the wisdom he gives to little children.
And the Sunday Gospel I mentioned? …
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’”
Mark 9:47-48
I think, perhaps, it would be more likely for some to enter heaven if they were blind.
So it was somewhat of a relief to see that the Little House on the Prairie episode this Friday, and the Gospel this Sunday, were both on point – and talk about REAL racism. (As you remember, mom is only interested in game shows and movies with kids or animals on the television, hence my watching LHP re-runs --- but perhaps with a new insight).
This particular Little House episode centered on the rich Mrs Olsen, and her focus on things of the world, and the values she puts on things and people. The episode starts with the only black man in the town of Walnut Grove desiring to join the Christian church there. The church elders vote on membership, and Mrs Olsen (and the mousey husband she led) had always voted against admission of the man: “Let ‘Those People’ form their own church for voodoo or whatever”. Her very real racism would not be moved by any rational arguments by the other townspeople.
Later in the episode, Mrs Olsen donates money to help build a school for the blind in Walnut Grove – and a big plaque for the building with her name on it. When she goes to welcome the teachers and blind children in another town, she is surprised (and disgusted) that half are black. On the way back to Walnut Grove, Mrs Olsen deliberately stays away from the black children. And one particularly bright young man notices her animosity, and doesn’t understand. One evening he asks the Christian black man from Walnut Grove: “Why doesn’t she like me?” He responds that “she doesn’t like people whose skin is a different color.” The young blind child then innocently asks: “What is color?” The man responds that when some people look at other people, the color of their skin is the only thing they see; but you (despite being blind) are able to see people much clearer than they can.
Mrs. Olsen overhears this innocent conversation and is struck to the heart. And she sees the child for what he is: a child of God.
Later, when she returns home to her husband, she repeats the exchange’s wisdom as being her own insight, and publically chastises the remaining bigot in town, as she hugs the little black child and shakes the hand of her new, black, Christian friend. Regardless of the source of this change in her heart, her surprised husband looks up to heaven and says aloud: “Praise God”.
Praise God, indeed, for the wisdom he gives to little children.
And the Sunday Gospel I mentioned? …
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’”
Mark 9:47-48
I think, perhaps, it would be more likely for some to enter heaven if they were blind.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The Little House on the Prairie
Mom likes watching animals and little kids on television. Last week we began watching some re-runs of The Little House On The Prairie. We watched an episode where a neighbor woman, whose husband died, works the farm and cares for her 3 kids. Then she visits a doctor and finds out she is dying. She comes home that night and tells her children: “Soon I am going to be in heaven with your father.” Her oldest boy cries: “Oh God. How could this be happening?” The mother chastises him: “Don’t you take the name of God in vain. And you stop crying right now. I am going to a wonderful place; if you are crying it is not for me, it is for yourself. And I thought I taught you better than to be selfish.” The boy apologizes, and everyone hugs.
At the church next Sunday, the mother asks for a family to volunteer to take in her children, when the time comes. After church, the mother invites the neighbor Ingalls family on a picnic: “It’s a nice day.” During the picnic, the kids are playing and the mother gets up to join them, but Mrs Ingalls asks if she is well enough. She responds: “I want my children to remember me laughing; I’ve got to show them the right example.” And all the adults join in on the games.
Meanwhile, young Laura Ingalls sits alone next to a tree. Her dad comes over and asks what’s wrong. She responds: “Look at her, dad. She’s dying, and she’s playing like it’s not important.” Her dad says: “Yes, she’s dying and will be going to heaven. You know that, and that is not a bad thing.” Laura then asks: “How old is she?” “About 35.” “You and mom are in your thirty’s. What would happen to us if you died?” And then dad replies: “Laura, you can spend your whole life worrying about things you cannot change. And before you know it, your life comes to an end, and you have never lived it. Look at them playing there. That’s what life is about: Laughing and loving and knowing they’re not really gone when they die.”
After we watched that show, I flipped the channel to the news, and immediately saw the images of the 5 teens killed at the train crossing. I wondered if any of their families had watched that Little House On The Prairie episode. I hope so, but probably not. I hope that someone, somewhere, gave them that message about what life is about. And I hope it gives them peace.
We’ve watched a few more episodes of the series since that day last week. Each one had a wonderful moral message, one which could be understood by watching children and adults alike. They were each an excellent teaching moment, an opportunity for parents to talk about and children to see and learn some of the very serious, very important moral lessons of life.
I don’t remember watching much of The Little House On The Prairie series when it first aired. Maybe I was busy with school, maybe with work. But I now know I missed something then. The few television series which I glance at today usually have parents and children yelling at each other, hating each other, belittling each other. Aren’t there any homes where parents still talk to their children, teach them, hug them, talk to them about God? Pray together? I hope so, but they’re certainly not shown as “reality” television.
Some people describe the old family television series from the ‘50’s and ‘60’s as “fantasy families”. Well, perhaps America needs more fantasy, and less reality. It certainly needs more morality on television. Meanwhile, my time with mom has me watching the re-runs of Little House On The Prairie. I’m not too old to learn from their moral lessons; I’m not too old to be reminded of timeless wisdom. And to give thanks to God for my family.
When was the last time you watched a television show which inspired you to pray, and give thanks for your blessings?
At the church next Sunday, the mother asks for a family to volunteer to take in her children, when the time comes. After church, the mother invites the neighbor Ingalls family on a picnic: “It’s a nice day.” During the picnic, the kids are playing and the mother gets up to join them, but Mrs Ingalls asks if she is well enough. She responds: “I want my children to remember me laughing; I’ve got to show them the right example.” And all the adults join in on the games.
Meanwhile, young Laura Ingalls sits alone next to a tree. Her dad comes over and asks what’s wrong. She responds: “Look at her, dad. She’s dying, and she’s playing like it’s not important.” Her dad says: “Yes, she’s dying and will be going to heaven. You know that, and that is not a bad thing.” Laura then asks: “How old is she?” “About 35.” “You and mom are in your thirty’s. What would happen to us if you died?” And then dad replies: “Laura, you can spend your whole life worrying about things you cannot change. And before you know it, your life comes to an end, and you have never lived it. Look at them playing there. That’s what life is about: Laughing and loving and knowing they’re not really gone when they die.”
After we watched that show, I flipped the channel to the news, and immediately saw the images of the 5 teens killed at the train crossing. I wondered if any of their families had watched that Little House On The Prairie episode. I hope so, but probably not. I hope that someone, somewhere, gave them that message about what life is about. And I hope it gives them peace.
We’ve watched a few more episodes of the series since that day last week. Each one had a wonderful moral message, one which could be understood by watching children and adults alike. They were each an excellent teaching moment, an opportunity for parents to talk about and children to see and learn some of the very serious, very important moral lessons of life.
I don’t remember watching much of The Little House On The Prairie series when it first aired. Maybe I was busy with school, maybe with work. But I now know I missed something then. The few television series which I glance at today usually have parents and children yelling at each other, hating each other, belittling each other. Aren’t there any homes where parents still talk to their children, teach them, hug them, talk to them about God? Pray together? I hope so, but they’re certainly not shown as “reality” television.
Some people describe the old family television series from the ‘50’s and ‘60’s as “fantasy families”. Well, perhaps America needs more fantasy, and less reality. It certainly needs more morality on television. Meanwhile, my time with mom has me watching the re-runs of Little House On The Prairie. I’m not too old to learn from their moral lessons; I’m not too old to be reminded of timeless wisdom. And to give thanks to God for my family.
When was the last time you watched a television show which inspired you to pray, and give thanks for your blessings?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
