Green Beans

 

As I age, I think of the ‘good old days’ more often.  Days when things were so much simpler and life was so much slower than it is today.  My parents had a big garden and my Granny Whitely living next door had a big garden too.  And back in that former time, about this time of the year, we picked fresh green beans out of the garden.  The “half-runner” variety of beans had strings on both sides that had to be pulled off.  Then they had to be snapped into three or four pieces and finally dropped them into a pot of cold water.  The process was slow and tedious but was made easier by several hands working together.  And while stringing and snapping the green beans, life was discussed.  My mother and Granny Whitely would pull the strings, and I would snap the beans dropping them into the pot.  Mom and Granny would talk and I would listen … and learn.  Some of the talk was gossip but much of the talk was wisdom.  I learned about life and love and losses, and about the good Lord’s faithfulness.  Wonderful memories.  When the aging apostle Paul was in prison in Rome, he recalled the ‘good old days’ while writing to his young protégée, Timothy.  Paul said in II Timothy 1:5, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”  When we have a Godly family, we can stand on their shoulders and accomplish more for the Lord than they did.  Hey, did you have a Godly family?  If not, you can start a Godly family for your children.  Be intentional and build those memories.  You’ll be glad that you did.