Joyful Faces of Many Ages
Last Friday night Ray and I joined fifty other dancers for a sprightly English country dance class. I never actually counted all of the dancers and onlookers, but at one point early in the evening, I did count 52 dancers on the dance floor. Most were members of homeschooling families, both current homeschoolers and graduates. However, we also had a new group of young adults whom I didn’t know. A class member had invited several students from our local Tennessee Tech University.
As we set, turned single, two-hand turned, do-si-doed, and waltz-stepped through the evening, I loved watching those new faces. The smiles were beautiful. We were all having a wonderful time. Here we were–little children, Ray and me, and children, teens, young adults, and parents in between–having a grand time moving to the beautiful music. I love how the tunes stay with me for days afterward.
On Saturday morning, our younger daughter, her children, and I strolled the aisles of the annual Santa’s Workshop craft fair at our local agricultural pavilion. I ran into person after person whom I have known during our 26 years in the area. From time to time, live singers and musicians entertained the lookers, shoppers, and talented craftspeople. I enjoyed them all, but especially the Plateau Chordsmen with their barbershop harmony.
Again, all ages had fun together.
A quite elderly man dressed up as Santa, as he does year after year. His long white hair and long white beard are real. He is a giant of a man, but quite feeble. When we first drove into the parking lot on Saturday morning, I watched him slowly make his way through the grass with his much-needed cane in hand. How kind he is to show love to little children in spite of his obvious frail health and the extreme effort it takes for him simply to get from his car to his wingback chair.
On Saturday evening Ray and I drove to Nashville for a concert. We stopped at one of our favorite burger places for supper. The hostess seated us at a table for 8, where 6 young adults were already seated. I felt a little bit awkward and had a slight wish to be seated at a private table. However, by the end of the meal, I was grateful.
When I saw that they were sharing a new item on the menu — a delicious-looking warm salad — as an appetizer, I asked them if it was good. One of the young men offered me a bite! I declined but was touched by the kindness. As we waited for our meals, the server brought our tablemates theirs. To my happy surprise, they joined hands and thanked God for their meal.
God is kind to join different ages together in families and churches and communities. He is kind to give us people to bless and people to bless us. It really is okay for your children not to spend hours and hours week after week year after year with other children of the same age. God puts people of different ages together all the time.
I am grateful for one joyful face after another this past weekend, joyful faces of many ages together.
All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
Proverbs 15:15