Back in the Day

My daughter and daughter-in-law are gifted young women. Among their other talents, they’re both excellent cooks and crafters. They enjoy finding an image on Pinterest and replicating it in their own style. As do I. This came as a something of a surprise to the girls. They said as much when I brushed off my crafting skills last year and joined ‘em.

Being as how I haven’t been an active crafter in recent years, it was up to me to explain to them that there was a time, back when they were taking afternoon naps at preschool, that yours truly was quite the crafter la extraordinaire.

I also told them that back in the day, we didn’t have it as easy as they do now. We didn’t have Hobby Lobby and all of these websites with supplies and ideas. No, we stomped through the woods and braved snow drifts over our head to scavenge for materials. That’s not entirely true, but I did have fun joking with ‘em as I described the good old days.

Believers do that too, you know, talk about the good old days. I’ve noticed how tempted I am to participate in these Woe is the World Parties.

It’s hard not to opine on the degradation of society because it’s true. Culture is eroding all around us. I’m learning, however, to be careful with that message. I’m convinced that shoot ourselves in the foot if all we talk about is how bad things have become and how good they used to be. Sadly, feet meant to bear good news end up encouraging hopelessness instead. What’s worse, sometimes we only mange to provoke the listener to defensiveness, causing them to refuse to hear us at all.

Yes, let’s be real about the state of the world! But may our “good old days” message never bury the good news of the gospel. We’re privileged, all of us, to share the planet at this very hour to see the NOW move of God. Remember, where sin abounds, grace doth much more abound!  

Hugs, Shellie