As I was working along last night at Target, my thoughts drifted back to Andrew, Meaghan and little Oliver and the perilous journey that they are embarking on.
We took that trip four times, well maybe we’re still on the journey, and it seems that the results so far, have been very successful! But it’s a tough trip. There are many obstacles along the way. Many wrong words to say, many wrong actions to take. All you can do is try to keep them safe and try to help them develop a strong moral character.
Often as my children were growing I told them, “you know what’s right and what’s wrong so do the right thing! Finally love them unconditionally. That doesn’t mean that they can’t be wrong, or do things that you don’t like. At that point in time, you may not like them very much but you never stop loving them!!
And beyond those things you just hope for the best! And I think we got it right so far!!
Anyway, here are three songs that floated into the jukebox in my head!
The first one “Younger Generation” was a part of my life in the early 70s, at a time when I was in college and maybe a bit rebellious, but it always made me stop and think about what it would be like to look at the relationship from the other side!
The last two first “Father and Son” from Yosuf Islam (Cat Stevens)and then Tom Rush “Child’s Song” talk about those middle stages of the parent child relationship, again these songs came into my life in the 70s when I was in those stages and made me think about what it’s like on both sides of the divide, and maybe how we never should let that divide get too wide!!
So Meg, Andrew and Oliver good luck and I know you two know the right things to do to create a loving and nurturing environment for Oliver! Beyond that Best of Luck!!
John B Sebastian – “Younger Generation”
Yusuf/Cat Stevens – “Father & Son”
Tom Rush – “Child’s Song”
Jerry Jeff Walker “Quiet Faith of Man”
Quiet Faith of Man
A baby child is born along the highway
A tiny little thing upon the land
An okie with his dreams out on the byway
Lifts the tiny baby in his hand
The woman smiles a little smile of knowing
And whispers something softly in his ear
Perhaps a little prayer to help the growing
Perhaps a word of comfort through the fears.
You trust the moon to move the mighty ocean
You trust the sun to shine upon the land
You take the little that you know
And you do the best you can
You see the rest with the quiet faith of man.
Words and Music by Bill Staines
Post Update 2026
Since this post was written in Marh of 2014 four more grandchildren have been added to our family
Zoe – daughter of son Peter and Melissa (Sept 2014)
Logan – son of Peter and Melissa (Jan 2017)
Emma – daugher of daughter ELizabeth and Marcus Rego (Feb 2023)
Lucas – son of daughter Elizabeth and Marcus (May 2025)
I have had the honor to babysit all of them! And watched them grow with the Quiet Faith of this man, So far so good!
