Out of My Mind: Honor fathers and elders

— This past Sunday was Father’s Day.

I hope we took time to thank the fathers and grandfathers who’ve invested themselves in our lives.

And, let’s not let it be just one day a year.

As a parent, and now grandparent, I realize how much I did not understand 20 years ago. And, actually, how much I still have to learn. But, I hope to continually learn and be teachable and respect those who’ve traversed this life before me.

My grandfather was a special man. He died in 1996; my step-father died in 1992. Both men were special, strong yet gentle men who quietly made a difference. I was also blessed with a great father-in-law.

All have been great role models for our children.

Considering their influence, I think of learning about family history and even the larger aspect of community history.

Years ago, I heard a college history professor tell an interesting fact. He said he routinely asks the incoming freshmen to name their paternal and maternal grandparents. Sadly, he first often has to define the terms. Then, he learns thatmany do not know their grandparents’ names.

We need to know our own history. We need to listen to the tales of our parents and grandparents. We need to see them as people with hopes, dreams, aspirations. We can avoid many a pitfall if we learn from their lives and mistakes.

So, too, as a nation. We learn from history.

Here in Pea Ridge, we’re blessed with a wonderful history and a very educational museum at the Pea Ridge National Military Park.

Over the past five years, the Pea Ridge National Military Park Foundation has hosted the Ozark Heritage Festival, drawing hundreds of people to the area.

The Pea Ridge National Military Park was touted by the former director of the national park system as unique among the system of parsk, but is oft overlooked by the natives. Sadly, school children just a few miles south don’t even know abut the Battle of Pea Ridge.

Too often we take things in our own back yard for granted, whether in our family or our community.

There are still many people here who lived on the land now encompassed by the park. To them, it was home, bought by the government.

But, it is also the sight of the battle during which many people died.

Why remember?

As so aptly said by John Scott, superintenent of the park, we can’t know who we are until we know who we don’t want to be.

History has much to teach us, if we’ll just learn.

◊◊◊

So, too, we can learn from the experience of others.

Many young people today listen to the advise of their peers more than to the advise of their elders.

In the Bible, in the book of II Chronicles, we read a story about Rehoboam, son of King Solomon, thid king of Israel. Solomon was called the wisest man in the world.

Rehoboam was facing a divisive populace. He heard the advice of his elders, the men who had counseled his father. He heard the advise of his peers, and chose it.

“But he (Rehoboam) forsook the counsel which theold men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him.” (II Chronicles 10:8)

His decision caused resentment and division and the nation split, never to be reunited.

The Scripture tells us wise men walk with wise men.

We will, even if we don’t mean to, pick up our companions’ ways and ideas.

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” Proverbs 12:15

Although the counsel of our elders may not be right for us, it behooves us to listen and consider and not dismiss it just because it’s from “old people.

◊◊◊

Editor’s note: Annette Beard is the managing editor of The Times of Northeast Benton County. A native of Louisiana, she moved to this area in 1980. She has nine children, four sonsin-law, three grandsons, a granddaughter and another grandson due in September. She can be reached at [email protected].

The opinions of the writer are her own, and are not necessarily those of The Times.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 06/20/2012