“When I’m afraid for the future, I put my faith in You Lord." ~ Psalm 56:3
We’re about to lose one of America’s
most precious resources. Not oil, gas or
rare metals. What we’re about to lose is
the living presence of those from the “Greatest Generation.” For many, COVID will be their last struggle. Some, like my Dad, won’t survive.
They grew up during the Great Depression and came of age during
World War II. That generation created
the strongest consumer culture ever, set us on its path to world power and unparalleled
prosperity. They did so with ingenuity
and wisdom; but also grit, sacrifice and humility.
Those who were lucky enough to have known and worked with them are better for it.
This is a different country than
the U.S. of 1941, when there were only 133 million Americans, when Ted Williams
batted .406 and “Pinocchio” graced the nation’s big screens. Today there are 325+ million more of us. We’re generally wealthier, communicate in
ways unthinkable back then, and travel much farther from home. But we’re far less amiable toward sacrifice.
For kids like my Dad, adult responsibilities came
early. Many helped support their
families by hustling papers, cleaning houses, and picking crops. They worked hard at whatever job was
available, taking great pride in their work.
They viewed personal responsibility as an honor. Something bestowed upon them. Something to be cherished, respected and
grateful for. They accepted all
consequences, whether good or bad; never whining or blaming.
In that day, society held itself to a higher standard;
humility and modesty were core values. They
did it out of a sense of duty - whatever was best for family, community, and
country.
If your parents were like mine, then their house was filled
with stuff. Their pack-rat mentality
grew from an earlier time when the next canister of flour or pair of shoes was
never guaranteed. Their frugality
enabled them to amass healthy savings even on limited incomes.
We were a much more religious nation back then. Believing in God helped those who struggled
through the Depression and sustained soldiers fighting on distant battlefields.
At home, millions prayed fervently for
the safe return of loved ones in uniform.
And if they did not return, families relied on God and their faith for
the strength to bear the grief and continue living.
These times are shaping who we are today. The hardships, and lessons, are not all that
different than they were nearly a century ago. Adversities should remind us of that which is
truly important and the values we are quickly leaving behind ... values the
Greatest Generation embodied.
If we do, there’s no reason why we,
too, can’t achieve greatness in the eyes of future generations.
Almighty Father, we are living in trying and
uncertain times. Help us learn from our
elders’ examples that sacrifice can be good for us, that discipline is required
of us, that humility is essential for us, and that You will guide us. Amen
