Julius G. Booker – December 2, 1934 -October 3, 2011
Simply put, Dad had a Simple Life.
A simple life doesn’t mean easy; it means not complicated. Just a few pairs of shoes, several shirts, and pants and a Sunday suit.
He didn’t require much; History and Theology books, a regular visit to the country, and I am guessing time to think.
Several months ago, I wrote a little piece on starting new businesses, a serious need in today’s economic climate. In addition to a full-time job and Sunday duties, Dad had a “side” business for just about as long as I can remember. That’s how he made ends meet.
We didn’t have much, but it would be a travesty ever to say we were poor. We were not.
We were rich in so many ways; we were taught by example to have a Love for the Lord.
Prayer was not a foreign word.
Humor was a huge part of our growing years. I have many happy memories of his humor, and we all got our humor from our Father and Grandfather.
Today, you can hear people complain about their upbringing. My Mom or Dad did or didn’t do this or that. What a waste of time.
As I raised my children, they learned both fortunately and unfortunately, that when life got in the way, “You are allowed to cry, but only for a period of time, and then you have to pull up your britches and keep moving” and “If you have to pray 6 times a day or more, do it” “You need to have a relationship with the Lord.“
As adults, we have an opportunity to pick and choose what we learned from our parents, some of it we keep and carry on, and some of it we let go of. We deliver what we learn to our children as we see it.
As Francesca and I drove down to Alabama, in between critiquing Francesca’s driving….I asked myself what I learned from my father; Humor, Simplicity of Life, Respect for our Elders, the Value of Hard Work, and A Love for the Lord.
Not long ago, Dad said that when the time came, he was ready to go; he said, “I am leaving all of this (life, politics, and so on) to Y’all.”
He had 4 Grandchildren he was proud of, and leaving this life is much easier when you know you’ve left something or someone behind, with the character and competence to carry on.
There’s a Randy Travis song and words keep going through my mind –I guess it’s not what you take when you leave the world behind you; it’s what you leave behind you when you go.
Dad had more than he needed and I am guessing everything he wanted.
How nice is that?
Writing Tips – Writing Prompts
Many people come into our lives, and we can learn from each of them. Think about someone you learned something from, who is the first person who comes to mind, how about the 2nd person, and so on. Focus on which one you want, but I would start with the first person.
That person could be the worst boss in the world, but I am sure you learned something if you think about it. It could be you learned what not to do. That’s a time saver.
You can learn what not to do from your parents as well what to do. That’s valuable.
- You can learn from co-workers, or a brief experience, crossing paths with a total stranger.
- How did what you learned impact your life?
- What did you do with what you learned?
- Did you make better decisions?
Maybe you have determined that simplicity is more. Meaning Less in Life is More.
- Did you implement what you learned in your daily life?
- Less complicated, more peaceful, allowing you to listen and focus.
The above are ideas on how you can get started writing about what you learned.
Stories to encourage you to write for Personal Growth, Ignoring the Noise to Move Forward. Life Writing and Storytelling for Growth Motivation.
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