I’ve recently begun working at a little library in the mountains. The largest section of books is Large Print books, specifically Christian Fiction Large Print, which tells you a lot about the demographics of this library.
It’s cute that I’m the “young blood” here. I adore the ladies, listening to their stories and learning from what they know. When they get to chatting, they teach me so much about cooking, the history of the area, and what they know about old remedies and how to make things. Most of the time, they’re speaking of how their mothers or grandmothers made things, but they were taught as little girls and remember much of it.
But, sadly – and this is sad to me – almost all of the ladies don’t do any of those old things anymore. Even if we give them the excuse of old twisted fingers, that doesn’t excuse them from the lack of telling their stories. I have to question it right out of them.
I’ve noticed a sobering trend among the older women of our generation: they’re just as addicted to devices as they say the kids are. Facebook’s demographic is primarily women over 60. Did you know that? Same with television shows and news programs (men included in those stats). Same with some device games – those clicking ones.
I get it, you’re wishing the kids would call or waiting for the vacation week you’ve planned, and the housework is done, so there’s not much else to do, might as well see what folks are up to on Facebook…
But…listen, I don’t mean to shame anyone, as that will not have the effect I wish. I want to encourage you. We need y’all.
We need you! The kids need you, the babies need you, the mamas need you, the daddies need you, the teenagers, the young adults, and all the ones between the babies and you. We all need you! Here’s why:
“None of us can be proof against the influences that proceed from the persons he associates with. Wherefore, in books and men, let us look out for the best society, that which yields a bracing and wholesome influence. We all know the person for whose company we are the better, though the talk is only about fishing or embroidery.” – Charlotte Mason
Even if we aren’t with you or listening to you, is there something that would be better than scrolling others’ lives or playing a silly game alone on your phone?
There must be someone who would like it if you called, a grandchild to text, an activity to pursue (I love the old quilting bees and garden clubs – they’re so poorly attended now; we could get them going again!). There is no doubt someone to visit, something to write, or a device to speak into as it records your stories. We need you to look into our town’s history, our family genealogy, the county’s old photographs that were never uploaded onto the Internet.
No matter your passion and no matter your physical limitations, there are many ways for you to be a part of helping us, the ones behind you. We need you.
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