Young guns turn to old timers in no time

Ol’ Jim Cathey and his young bride Stella were considered to be the new young guys when we moved into our neighborhood in 1973.  

Fast forward as time goes by and we find that we are now considered to be among the old timers that inhabit our neighborhood. We are starting our 50th year here. Now, every house on our street has a new family with the exception of a couple of houses that still hold the longevity crown. We were blessed to have wonderful neighbors when we first moved in to our neighborhood. Now, as the years passed by and those neighbors took the next step in their lives, and new occupants reside in those houses, we are still blessed to have good neighbors.

I remember H.T. (Torg) Torgenson saying that we lived on the low side of “Poverty Bluff” and we found that to be true when it rained because all of the rainwater seemed to drain right down on us. 

Yes, I have fond memories of those rainy days and rain itself, though this 100+degree dry weather is causing those memories to fade. We will cover that in another story, because today we are talking about all of our great neighbors that we have had over the years and the new ones we now enjoy.  

I think back as far as I can in my eighty years, and I am glad to say that every neighbor that we ever had has been a blessing in one way or another! In fact, a good neighbor is like a priceless treasure. I have heard stories and have personally known people that were feuding with their neighbors. For the most part, these situations caused a lot of strife for the parties involved. So, I got to wondering just what it took to be a good neighbor. 

Robert Frost wrote a poem called “Mending Walls” and there is a line in that poem that reads, “Good fences make good neighbors.” Well, I have no doubt but what that is a true statement. Because, if you had a nice garden and your neighbors’ cows regularly pushed through the fence to have breakfast at your expense…well, that could cause hard feelings. 

Through the years, we have had neighbors where fences were involved, and it was a mutual agreement that we were both responsible for keeping that fence in good repair. But there have been many instances where there were no fences at all and we find that the same principles apply. And therein lies the rub. To have a good neighbor, you must be a good neighbor exhibiting the qualities to your neighbors that you expect from them. 

We all have our good points as well as not so good points and there is where we must give and take as we develop those personal relationships. You can develop this relationship by meeting the traits that have been established as things that make a good neighbor. 

Mrs. Grisham, my third-grade teacher in 1950, had us memorize “The Golden Rule,” which many of us grew up learning and living by. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” This is found in Matthew 7: 12 when Jesus said, “So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” 

And when He was asked, which is the great commandment in the Law? Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In closing, Peter reminded folks in 1st Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” Consider these thoughts. If you apply these principles to your life, you will find that you are blessed and will always have good neighbors!

Neighbors

 My Ol’ Daddy said, “ Take a look in that lookin’ glass,

Before you criticize another,

Make sure you match what you want your neighbor to pass,

Or your relationship will smother!”

“Treat your neighbor like you would want to be treated,

The trail will be smoother for you,

All questions an’ concerns will be defeated,

‘Cuz  good relationships will be true!”

Well, I stopped to reflect on and ponder that thought,

Knowin’ the old gent was a sage,

An’ I wondered at just what I sought,

An’ what could I use as a gauge?

I was a third grader way back there in school,

Just tryin’ to learn the three “Rs,” 

Readin’ Ritin’ an’ Rithmatic ever so cool,

While dreamin’ of the creek’s sand bars.

Mrs. Grisham standin’ there solemn as a judge,

We’re hopin’ to be saved by the bell,

But the time on that clock seemed to never budge,

Naught to do but cipher an’ spell!

But old lady Grisham pulled a trick on us all,

When she asked us to stand an’ recite?

The clock ticked on, it would shore be a close call,

An’ shore ‘nuff it rung an’ ended our plight.

Before we dashed off to freedoms sweet embrace,

She assigned us to learn the Golden Rule,

You could see concern on everyone’s face,

She said in life we would need this tool.

My Ol’ Daddy reminded me how I should act,

God’s wisdom stated so true,

Do unto others, now hear this true fact

As you would have them do unto you!

© Ol’ Jim Cathey

Pray for rain! Join us at First Baptist Marlin at 11:00 Sunday morning.

God bless each of you and God Bless America!