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From Silver Can Come Gold
By
Bill Hodges
©2000 Hodges Seminars International
I love to hear the stories that older people tell of how the
world was when they were young. My great grandfather, a Shawnee, would spin
fascinating stories of the proud days when his people walked freely throughout
the land. Lakes teemed with fish then and game was plentiful. There was a World
War I veteran who talked of the "war to end all wars" and the VA patient who
described what it was like to be at the Battle of the Bulge. Once I met a man
who was present when the original rockets were designed by the scientists of the
Third Reich. With his shaking hand, he sketched drawings of the early designs.
His speech was slow, but he described events more vividly than I would have
gotten from any history book. Making the elderly a part of your life can, at times, be a
tedious process, but it is an ever so profitable investment of your time. Mary
Walker gives us some thoughts to keep in mind when we choose to make older
people a part of our life in this wonderful poem entitled "Beatitudes for Friends of the Aged." Blessed are they who understand My faltering step and palsied hand. Blessed are they who know that My ears today must strain to hear the things they say. Blessed are they who seem to know That my eyes are dim and wits are slow. Blessed are they who look away When coffee spilled at the table today. Blessed are they with a cheery smile Who stop to chat for a little while. Blessed are they who never say "You’ve told that story twice today." Blessed are they who know the ways To bring back memories of yesterday. Blessed are they who make it known That I’m loved, respected, and not alone. Blessed are they who know I’m at a loss To find the strength to carry the cross. Blessed are they who ease the day On my journey Home in loving ways. We are allowing so much first-person history to become
unnecessarily lost. With an inexpensive tape recorder, the memories of a
lifetime can be captured for the enlightenment of generations to come. It just
takes patience. I wish now I had a tape of my great grandfather’s stories
because, in the mists of my memory, they are beginning to fade. Would that I had
kept those scraps of paper on which the scientist drew but, alas, I recognized
their value too late. But today is a new day and I now know that where there is
silver hair, there is most likely a gold mine of information. With patience and
love, it can be mine. Bill Hodges is a nationally recognized speaker, trainer, and
syndicated columnist. Hodges may be reached at Hodges Seminars International,
P.O. Box 89033, Tampa, FL 33689-0400. Phone 813/641-0816. Web site: http://www.BillHodges.com
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