However, this pleasurable time on the Sunday afternoon trip was one of intense learning and shaping of how I one day would assume responsibility over my own life. First, I would remember that in life I would not need to travel alone. I could have companions. My mom and brother and sister most often were also in the car. Next I realized that both from a perspective of safety and pleasure certain skills were needed.
A vital skill was what I call "Observation".
Both my mom and dad contributed to my keen sense of observation of things around me. I learned to 'see', 'hear', 'smell', 'taste' and 'feel'.
At birth the baby begins to learn about the 'outside' world as well as about himself. Did you ever see one of those gizmos attached to a crib that was suspended above the baby.. just out of reach of the fingers, but close enough for the baby's eyes to observe? It moved in a circle and often played music. There was color, design, shape, and absolute fascination for the baby. It seemed to provide entertainment and keep the baby quiet for a long time. I think the English word is "mobile". Only recently did I read that at birth there are essential underdeveloped neurological connections in the young baby. The brains sees. The eyes simply communicate messages to the brain, which interprets those messages as what we call "sight". The mobile provides not only fun for the baby, but apparently later in life the child and young adult will be able to visually process information that would not be possible without this type of visual training.
So on these country outings sometimes we would learn to notice. Take note of. Color. Smells. Perspective. Same/different. Size. Purpose. Let me give a simple example. Farms have houses and out buildings. Fields and animals. Water sources. Machinery needed on the farm. So I learned that people lived in the house, animals in the barn along with stored grain and farm machinery. Ponds often provided water. Barns and houses often needed painting or repairs. Seasons provided change of how everything looked on the farm. This is level one learning.
Level two required a closer look. Animals came in male and female. A horse or mule pulled a plow or wagon. It worked to help provide what the family needed. The human used the animal to turn dirt and seed into food and income for the family and provide for the animals he owned. Chickens provided food [eggs] as well as environmental control [ate bugs that would destroy the veggies in the garden]. Dogs and cats generally were considered part of the workings of the farm, not primarily as 'pets'. Cats kept the rodent population in check. This was very important to help preserve the harvest of both grain and root type veggies. Dogs were used to herd animals, keep away predators or mean humans. Function related to type. Horses pull plows or wagons; they do not eat rats or mice.
Level three. I realized that on the farm there was an order of authority. This is a level that requires more than the physiological seeing. Humans exercised dominion over both the land and the animals. Both the land and animals existed to serve the man. But there was a higher authority. God gave the rain and sunshine and life to the man, animals and plants. So the proper order of authority was God first, then humans, then the animals, plants, and soil of earth. Within the family an order mirrored the God who created all things. The family was husband, wife, and any children God gave them. The husband was the God appointed provider and protector for the home. Serving her husband, at his side, not under his feet, was his wife who honored her husband by living to complete what God saw was lacking in the man.
She was to respect his decisions even when she did not agree. She lovingly submitted to his 'final say so' in decisions he needed to make. She also was the nurturer of life. In her body the seed of the man would unite with her seed and the child of this union would be loved and welcomed as part of the family. The wife by nature is a nurturer, a lover of beauty and art and color and harmony. She provides a place where her husband can safely entrust his dreams and visions for his family and the dominion God has given him. The wife joyfully embraced her duties and responsibilities over the dominion God had given her. Children are a blessing from God. They are to obey and honor their earthly father and mother that things go well for them and they have a long life. Level four: I learned about God's design. Design is the purpose for which God, the creator of all things, made everything. Why am I here? What is the big picture? Did God make a world in complete harmony with Himself? How is God's creation supposed to relate to the One Who sits in the heavens and who dwells in light unapproachable? Exactly how does my relationship to the One Who created all things fit in with my day to day living?
Our next post will delve deeper into Level four observation. This will give you much to think about as you are perhaps formulating some goals for 2010. Interested in becoming a better person? Becoming a bit more concerned about the others around you? I think you will enjoy tomorrow's post. I will write it with my own life in mind.
Mrs. B.
Photos:
(c) realityimaging uk
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