Great Grampas help their gramchillins discover a purpose in life and pursue it with some excitement.
At this writing, I am teaching a series of computer classes for a local continuing education program. Like the professor in the story below, I enjoy challenging my students with assignments that stretch themselves and help them discover new talents and abilities.
When the time is right, Great Grampas can do the same thing. It doesn't take money. It takes trust, a sense of fun and most of all well applied Vitamin L --- LOVE!
Suicide or What?
The Story is told of a young scullery maid who was considering suicide. She told an acquaintance that her life was not worth living, though she didn't do anything about improving the quality of her existence. Somehow the news of this sad young life about to end reached the ears of a world famous professor and he dropped by the scullery to see if he could salvage the situation.
He recoiled at the self pity and hopelessness of the little maid. He decided to involve her in an experiment.
"Look to your feet, my girl," he began. "What do you see?"
"I see my feet." fhe replied dully.
"Yes, but what is on your feet?" he replied.
"Shoes." she said.
"What do you know about the leather they are made of?" he continued.
"Nuthin." She said turning her head to the wall.
"Well, I am willing to bet you half a crown that you could find out more about leather and your life would be a little more fulfilled."
"What would I have to do?" She asked.
"I know you can read. There is a free library not far from here. In your off hours you could go there and learn to do a little research-- Find out more about leather--how it is made--the different kinds and so forth. You'll win the bet, and the half a crown when you give me a few sentences about leather representing what you have 'discovered' "
He saw a glimmer of interest that could lead to excitement. Somebody was paying attention to her. Someone was giving her a challenge!
Two weeks later she presented not just a paragraph, but a full page article written in a concise hand detailing everything she had learned at the library about leather. More important than the research, was her attitude, her dress and bearing. Her face had a tight little smile. Her apron was freshly laundered and starched.
The professor gladly paid her the half a crown she had justly won.
He led her to the back stoop of her scullery and asked her what she saw.
"Ants, sir." she responded
"Your research on leather was quite good really!" he complimented. "If you can fill five or ten pages with everything you learn about ants, I might get it published and that would pay much more than half a crown.
"I shall, sir!" was her enthusiastic reply. She developed 15 pages with citations and a few illustrations. The professor not only got it published for a fee, he arranged for a scholarship and the scullery maid was a scullery maid no more. With a whole new purpose in life, she was launched!
A great prophet, Ezra Taft Benson once said, " "The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ would take the slums out of people, and then they would take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature."NOTE: I believe that one of my missions in life is to help you discover leather, ants and the ease of blogging and publishing on the Internet so that you are no longer the same--and like the former scullery maid, you can be recognized for the excellence of your work.
The Internet makes that possible for those who learn how easy it is, to create and tweak. I share your enthusiasm for your new abilities and the excellent work you are doing and will yet do! You have earned many happy returns of the day--and many days to come! You shall eat fish many days because of what you are just now learning to perfect in your growing arsenal of skills! JRH
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