The Truth about the Good Old Days

The Truth about the Good Old Days
Friday, March 22, 2019 by Dee Lundgren MA, LPC

The fallacy of the good old days. It’s common to hear people romanticize the past. At times, I indulge myself in this negative pastime.

What I’ve discovered is that memories aren’t so good.

When my kids were young, they would ask permission to go to the rock pile. The rock pile was the name the neighborhood kids gave the collection of stones at the end of the street. It was the cool place for the under nine neighborhood crowd to hang. I felt my children were safe. Until the drug dealers bought the near-by house. And that’s another future blog story.

Years later, after we had moved out of state, we visited our old neighborhood. My daughter remarked, “I remember the rock pile as boulders, now I realize it was only a few stones and dirt.”

Perspective. Makes all the difference.

Reminds me of the children of Israel who were miraculously led out of slavery. One would think that nothing would be worse than slavery—long hours, grueling work, cruel task masters, and little freedom. Talk about a dead-end career. It would not be something one would long to go back to. Right?

Wrong. The Israelites said they missed being slaves in Egypt. And guess what else the people missed? The garlic, leeks, and onions. Really? Garlic and onions do add flavor to food. Not sure about the leeks. I spotted one in the grocery store awhile back and passed on it. I’ve gone over a half a century without this vegetable. I’ve decided to head to the finish line of life without partaking.

The food in the desert was directly supplied by God every morning. It was a cake called manna. It was the ultimate superfood. God put everything that the people would need nutritionally in this simple wafer. The ultimate power bar without the cardboard taste.

But the people complained. They wanted ‘the good ole days.’

It is easy to complain, especially after loss. Perhaps to a time when life was simpler. Our imagined utopia—which is any day but today.

If we aren’t content with today, my bet is that we weren’t content back then either.

It’s that complainer in us that follows us to our new season in life. The complainer makes past slavery sound like a dream job.

Recently, I’ve been reminiscing about the happy times when my kids were small. I’ve had to be careful not to camp in the yesterday is better than today refrain. Yes, they were cute. But there were those middle of the night vomiting marathons too.

Perspective. Makes all the difference.

Scripture says, do not say, Why were the old days better than these? For it is not wise to ask such questions. Ecclesiates 7:10

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Is there something in your life you need to view with a different perspective?

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Comments

Yvette From Washington, DC At 3/28/2019 2:59:18 PM

I can definitely relate to this. As you said, after a loss, it is often a time for reflection and desire for the "good old days". But lately I am trying to channel those desires into a hopeful and purpose filled future that is guided and directed only by God.

Reply by: Dee Lundgren

Great strategy.

Donna Snyder From Dunlap, IL At 3/23/2019 9:45:25 AM

Great message! I tend to long for the past in this season of life. Many friends have retired and moved away...our 3 kids are in 3 different cities...I don’t care for the aging process...needed to hear this! Thank you, friend!