Good Camouflaged

Good Camouflaged

A Lesson

Why search for the good in people? In Genesis 1:3 & 4 we read God said “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good . . .” In Genesis 1:11 & 12 we read God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: . . . And God saw that it was good. Jumping to Genesis 1:27 & 31 we read So God created man in his own image . . . God saw all that he had made and it was very good.

The will of God is to create things that are good. Man, male and female, are made in the image of God and thus have the capacity to do good things. Seeing good actions done by man may be considered as God acting through his creation. Given that man, male and female, are God’s image bearers and are seen by God as very good, it is reasonable to expect that man would do at least some good deeds. Therefore those image bearers should be treated with the utmost care, even those who do only a little good. Is this an impossible lesson to live up to?

In Baggage Burdens. a reader may find some characters are not very nice, not good. In deed some characters in the novel see other characters as bad, even evil. Jill sees her father, Frank, as evil. And Gertrude is not much better. As a reader you may well conclude that Jill’s actions often make her look bad. She herself doesn’t see herself a good, as worthy of receiving love. In the light of “A Lesson” above would you agree that such people are good, worthy of patience and hope?

Jill’s strong dislike for Frank is understandable after one reads how violent Frank is when he comes home drunk. Yet Kathy, Jill’s sister, experienced beatings too. However Kathy changes her mind about her father. Alice, Jill’s mother, not only tolerated Frank’s blistering behavior, but also still loved him. What good could possibly be seen in Frank?

In the early stages of Baggage Burdens., readers may find Jill an unlikeable person. They may wonder how can a writer dare to make such a person the protagonist.

Jill runs away from home leaving her mother must face Frank alone. Earlier Jill despised her sister for running away. Jill runs away from her grandmother who helps Jill survive. Jill uses Joseph, her husband, and manipulates him. Can you find any good in Jill to motivate you to pull for her to find a better life?

Think of a couple of individuals you find difficult. What redeeming quality do they have that does or may enable you to associate with them?

Nothing succeeds like success. Does this kernel of wisdom work? In Baggage Burdens. it is used as a motive for characters to continue to struggle. The next blog explores the nourishing spirit of this seed.

Love the Farmer's Market

Love the Farmer’s Market

For consumers the Farmer’s Market is a place to purchase local vegetables or specialty foods. Some people look forward to discovering irresistible crafts that might add a touch of beauty to their homes.

In Baggage Burdens. for Joseph and Thomas, the market is an important part of their life. They sell their vegetables to support their family.  While they aren’t becoming rich, it is a satisfying part of their life.

Other market rewards is an opportunity to display and talk about their hobby as seen through various crafts. Friendships form. Joseph rescues a 63-year-old seller who has a flat tire. While Susan can’t convince Joseph to take any money for his help, she does give a necklace with a Black Beauty pendant to Amber, Joseph’s daughter. When Joseph debates moving into Camrose, he's disappointed that he would be giving up visiting with his market customers. After eight years in Camrose, Joseph goes to visit Thomas at the market. A large crowd has gathered around Thomas’ table. Joseph can’t resist helping his friend and renewing old acquaintances with his former customers.

Thomas, too values the social interactions at the market more than the economic benefits. Retirement for the seventy-one year old was difficult. Mornings he needed help to unload his truck and set up, but that didn’t prevent him from coming back year after year. The bonds of friendship with his customers and other vendors were too strong. Thomas knew the life history of his regular customers and most of the vendors. When he did retire, Thomas often returned to the market so he could visit with the venders.

Thomas and Joseph reflect the vendors I have met at the market when I sell my books. The vendors know the names and interests of their fellow sellers. They too, struggle in disciplining themselves from buying too many items from the other market stalls.

Can you see the good in other people?

In Baggage Burdens. the dark side of some characters may prevent the reader from seeing their good qualities. No one is perfect. By the same token no one is all bad. In the next blog I identify some character’s hidden qualities and discuss why it is important that we can see them.

Can you see God in other people?

Quality Time with Your Children

Quality Time    

with Your Children

 Joseph embraced involvement in his children’s recreational life. Like many parents he enjoyed playing board games with his children. He set times aside to play catch with Daniel. In tune with the interests of his children Joseph began horseback riding. The rides became times when he and his children shared concerns and anticipated  dreams. For the children Joseph built a skating rink. He attended Daniel’s soccer games when they lived on the farm and Matthew’s games when they moved to Camrose. First with Daniel and later with Matthew, Joseph takes his sons to the church’s Annual Father-Son Campout. The events focused on building a father-son relationship.

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Farm life provides opportunities for children and parents to work together and appreciate each other.  Going out to cut down a Christmas tree opens the door for Joseph and Daniel to ride out in the tractor for a fun afternoon. Daniel’s hanging around Dad's workshop starts Daniel learning carpentry skills. Joseph brags to other men in the church about his son being a valued gopher. Daniel learns how to sand and later to operate a lathe. Many times Joseph and the children garden. At the Farmer’s Market, under Joseph’s watchful eye, Daniel sells the model trucks that he carved and Amber assists in packaging sold produce.

Frequent interactions leads to knowing what’s important to your children and providing unwavering support. Daniel valued his friends at the church school. Because of Joseph’s strong bond with his son he understood his son’s attachment to the rural school. Jill stood no chance in pulling Daniel to be homeschooled with his sister. Joseph’s support for his son is demonstrated again when the family moved to the city. Joseph drove Daniel to the rural school everyday. Amber’s relationship with her father leads her to understand his love for the farm. Her paintings capture that attachment. At a silent auction Joseph outbids a strong competitor for Amber’s painting.

Quality time verses quantity of time.

Which is more important?

or

Would you agree with Joseph?  Both are very important.

What story can you share to support your position?

  

Farmer’s Market: more than a market. In Baggage Burdens. Joseph shows that the Famer’s Market is more than cashing in on a harvest. The next blog shows how Joseph and I, both venders, enjoy this venue.

To Be A Very Good Parent

To Be A Very Good Parent

In Baggage Burdens. Jill’s goal was to be a very good parent, at least better than her parents were to her.  A very important thing to know is that a parent is human; a parent will make mistakes, especially first time parents. The key is to learn from those mistakes.

Jill’s first mistake was missing opportunities to be involved in activities and games with her son and her husband. It began when she didn’t join Daniel, her son, and Joseph in sleigh rides to cut down the family Christmas tree. For Jill it was too cold. She found the board games played by Daniel and Joseph too competitive. Daniel loved being Joseph’s gopher in the greenhouse. Jill worked on her correspondent courses. Joseph became “soccer mom” for Daniel. Jill stayed home.

The bond between father and son grew strong. Jill felt left out. To compensate she attempted to convince Daniel to let her home school him as she was doing for Daniel’s sister, Amber. Daniel resisted. Jill’s second mistake, she persisted in attempting to persuade Daniel to change his mind. Jill didn’t appreciate how important Daniel’s school friends were to him. A wedge between mother and son developed and grew.

When Jill had Amber and Sarah, she invited the girls to help her set the table, make cookies, prepare for parties. As their teacher, she cultivated and celebrated Amber’s love for art and Sarah’s for acting. In the summer together with Daniel, they played in the sand and worked in the garden. Because Jill didn’t miss an opportunity to be involved with her daughters they had a strong attachment for each other. Joseph’s bonds with his daughters weren’t a stressor for her. She had learned to be involved with her children.

To admit you were wrong isn’t easy. To admit that you can see how another person can feel you were wrong is a little easier. It took Jill’s desire to be with her grandchildren to motivate Jill to confess it was reasonable for her son to see her as being selfish. That admission allowed a bridge to be built over the rift that separated her from Daniel.

Is this common sense?

The more quality time parents have with their children the better.

Where have you seen parent’s involvement in the children’s lives paying dividends?

Quality time with your children––a high priority. Joseph, in Baggage Burdens. presents a twist to what is quality time with your children? Look for this in the next blog.