It really never fails... for as long as I can remember, I do some of my best thinking when I'm mowing or working in the yard (well, maybe not my best, but I do think a lot when I'm out there). I remember years ago, thinking about what I'd say to a friend when I saw him after he left his wife... I remember coming up with plays for basketball season or what I'd say in a practice... I'd even have conversations with people, well actually, I have "pre-conversations" so that I have practiced things before I say them. It's weird... but does anyone else do that? Anyway, Saturday (yesterday), I mowed the lawn... which means an hour and 1/2 of thinking and then today (Sunday) I continued where I left off. I remember doing this a long time ago... junior high or high school... and wondering "what will the girl look like that I marry; what will she be like; or even, will I every get married?" and then moving on to "will I have kids; how many; will there be one of each, 2/3 boys, 2/3 girls; how many will my wife want; will I get divorced; what will I do about the kids..." and on and on it went about my overall future. Guess you could say that I was a worrier, because I really WORRIED about these things. My clearest "I wonder what..." moment was sitting in my dorm room in 1990 and wondering where I'd be 5 and 10 years from now... and I wonder what my 20th high school reunion would be like (if we even had one--Japan high school, ya' know). Then in 1995, I answered that question... "Still in college, married to Jeanise, and finally focusing on school." Then in 2000, I answered... "well, you're a pretty successful teacher and a high school coach. Not bad." I guess that it's fun to look back and answer some of those questions.
Now you're probably asking yourself, "Ok Mike, this is just weird." Well, I looked back at what was going on when I first started on this blog site. Joel was very young, and Lindsay was in transit. So while I was working in my flower-beds (THANKS MOM FOR THAT GENE) I started thinking about what kind of ten year old Joel would be; will he get in trouble a lot; will he have friends; will the girls like him... that kind of stuff. Then I started thinking about the example that he sees in me... will he grow up to be like me (Phillips, Craig & Dean song-I wanna Be Just Like You was playing on my mp3 player) and am I someone that looks up to. Do I do things right? That kind of stuff. Then, when I've finished watering all of my plants... I get my answer to all of them... "Don't worry about it. God is going to take care of everything."
SOOOOOO, on a funny note. Lindsay was watching me look at emails on my computer, when she found a penny or a nickel sitting on my desk. She quickly grabbed the money and took off. When I asked her what she had, she said, "I go put my money in the piggy bank." So those of you with teen-age girls... is this the way it works? :-)
3 comments:
I have to tell you that I think about those things all the time. I too think the most whilst doing yard or house work. I wouldn't say that I worry about those things too much, but I do wish and hope for them. It's fun planning your future... until it gets time to actually MAKE your future. I think you have a wonderful family and you have turned out very well! I am so thankful for having such amazing familiy members to look up to! I thank grandma and grandpa for that. What amazing people they are! They are the ones that planted that God fearing characteristic in our parents, who then planted it in us. How fortunate we are! Just like you said, God will take care of us-- no need to worry about what will happen... We are so lucky to have that worry-free life, aren't we?
Miss and love you lots!!! Give Jeanise, Joel, and Lindsay hugs and kisses from me!
Yard work was always a good for deep thoughts...way back when I actually did some.
Long drives are the same. I've had several to and from Nebraska when I would turn off the stereo and just think.
WHen I was driving 25 minutes to PC West I had a lot of thinking time. Now, I only get about 8 minutes, which isn't too bad, I guess.
Elizabeth... I wrote this really long response a couple of days ago and then it got deleted! AH! Anyway, we come from a long line of really good people. I think back to that picture of grandma and grandpa on their honeymoon under that tree and just wish I could have been a fly on their shoulder or something. Wonder if they thought about, "I wonder what our kids will look/be like? How many do you want?" :-) God took care of them and their kids... If we turned out ok... I'm sure that God will take care of our futures as well. :-) Enjoy graduation and CONGRATS! Sad that I remember holding you when you were a newborn... time flies!
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