MARCH 18, 2006
Art
Linkletter made a career out of highlighting the Darndest Comments from children. He had a particular knack at drawing
them out, and allowed all of us to listen to the silly, humorous, off-beat, and often right on target observations of tomorrow's generations.
Not too long ago I was reading to my little grandson Theo, who is almost 4 years of age. I was lying on his bed pretending to fall asleep hoping he would start to shut his eyes as well. After about two minutes of my pretend shut eye I looked up and he was staring straight at me. Without hesitation, he said 'Popeye, you go sleep in your own bed.' I dutifully removed myself holding in a wonderful internal smile.
If we listen to our children we may begin to shift our priorities because their direct observation of life often can teach those of us so-called educated sophisticated adults. Children may be our best window into what is good in our culture.
As I was thumbing through a magazine from 1943 called Allis-Chalmers, I came across a poem by Joanne Elsner, age 13. I share it because it brought home once again in a very concise few sentences where many of us derive joy and meaning in life.
"I'm glad I'm an American, for peaceful plains,
The clear Blue Sky, for the birds that sing, in the tree tops high,
I'm glad I'm an American."
Look at the focus of this young teenager 60 years ago!
She was obviously thankful for the bounty of the natural world. Blue skies and birds that sing make us all feel good. She was writing at a time when a war was raging on several continents, probably both mom and dad were working long hours to provide a lasting peace, so Joanne should make us all pause and give thanks for simple joys from creation.
A child's sense of awe is bred out of them on a regular basis, but watch a child relate to nature and we as adults can learn a thing or two.
--Peter