Today’s Thought “Throwback Thursday” G. Ward

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1

I miss the days when it was proper to awaken your children from their slumber because they neglected to wash the dishes before bedtime. Moreover, parents would have company until late and children upon coming indoors for the evening would be so entirely exhausted from enjoying varied sports, bike-riding, to then culminate into forgotten games like two-square (e.t. finding a line on the driveway and simulating tennis without a racket), red light, green light, and whether boys want to admit it or not, chants of rhythmic songs like “Ms. Lucy had a baby” while clapping hands in synchronicity through great cadence.

Our parents entertained often. They would insist we come in and show them the latest dances (to which they were too old to grasp – in retrospect, I now realize they were much younger than I am currently = OUCH!). In our home there were four of us. We are all 16 months apart (almost to the day) and our eldest sister participated in ballet, tap and jazz at a very early age but was yet a horrible dancer. Our brother, well let’s just say either he was far more intelligent than us; because he would just spin the 45’s or 78’s (young people, that’s indicative of vinyl records vs. cd’s or cassettes) insisting that he couldn’t dance at all. Amazingly when girls entered his scope, he became a regular Deney Terrio (an American choreographer, host of the television musical variety series Dance Fever). Our younger sister and I were dancing machines, particularly when money was on the line. This sister also sang very well. Although I too could carry a tune, I never revealed that growing up; I was entirely too shy.

What happened to the days when parents embarrassed their children? I’m now so very thankful for that era along with foundational insistence that children did what their parents instructed. I can’t wait! My grandsons will be arriving on late tonight. I believe their flight comes in after 10 p.m. When they arrive from the airport at 11: p.m. or so, I’m going to blast some music from the “Hi-Fi” and insist they teach me how to do “The Bump,” “The Hustle,” “Funky Chicken” and “The Robot!” I don’t care if they are just 3 and 1 years old!

Happy Thursday!