In the after math of Sandy as so many of my northern friends continue to suffer without electricity, I thought I would share this experience my family had a few years back. I hope it is encouraging:
“What is a generator” my six year old son asked. The lights had just flickered into darkness, the basketball game disappeared from the TV and the stir-fry on the stove came to an abrupt halt. We looked around the neighborhood and upon seeing lights across the way my husband announced, “Larry’s generator kicked in.”
Heading for the flashlight I started to explain about the storm, electricity, public utilities, and of course private generators. By now our 8 year old daughter was in the mix with her own questions while patting the curly headed three year old, “don’t worry Bub, you’ll be OK.” Initially the house felt not only dark, but cold and uncertain. I checked the clock and immediately wondered if we should catch the next ferry to the mainland and spend the night with family. My dear husband remained calm and discouraged that idea.
Before long the house was aglow with candles, the fireplace crackled with warmth. The children began piano and violin concerts and we talked. Later we read our next chapter of a Laura Ingalls Wilder book and relished in it. Are those special quiet family evenings she described gone? Is there a way to get them back into our culture? What REALLY is a generator? As far as I could tell, a generator was something that keeps people from the most precious family time imaginable. I don’t want one.
If this post is a blessing to you, please share. Thank you!
“What is a generator” my six year old son asked. The lights had just flickered into darkness, the basketball game disappeared from the TV and the stir-fry on the stove came to an abrupt halt. We looked around the neighborhood and upon seeing lights across the way my husband announced, “Larry’s generator kicked in.”
Heading for the flashlight I started to explain about the storm, electricity, public utilities, and of course private generators. By now our 8 year old daughter was in the mix with her own questions while patting the curly headed three year old, “don’t worry Bub, you’ll be OK.” Initially the house felt not only dark, but cold and uncertain. I checked the clock and immediately wondered if we should catch the next ferry to the mainland and spend the night with family. My dear husband remained calm and discouraged that idea.
Before long the house was aglow with candles, the fireplace crackled with warmth. The children began piano and violin concerts and we talked. Later we read our next chapter of a Laura Ingalls Wilder book and relished in it. Are those special quiet family evenings she described gone? Is there a way to get them back into our culture? What REALLY is a generator? As far as I could tell, a generator was something that keeps people from the most precious family time imaginable. I don’t want one.
If this post is a blessing to you, please share. Thank you!