Comfort in the Familiar

The old stories comfort me.

The comfort  is the same as when I was a child.

Revisiting old familiar stories allow me to breathe and feel safe for awhile.

But in a different way.

Today, they comfort me and they enlighten me but in an “adult” way.

I don’t worry any more that Johnny stole my pencil in 3rd grade.

I don’t worry that my parents were so mean that they would not let me go to a party with all of the cool kids.

It is a different way.

A way that deals with the threats of nuclear war, civil unrest and my own mortality.

Fears of war that may drag on forever and include my precious grandson.

I always strive to be prepared for the “winter” especially when it is the winter of my soul.

My soul seeks comfort in old familiar faces, stories, beliefs, traditions, values.

The Library of Congress

Here for your enjoyment is an old and familiar tale from the Library of Congress website.

It is a story of preparation.  It is a story of living in the moment.

For me, it is a story of balance.

Enjoy!

the-ants-and-the-grasshopper (1)

https://www.loc.gov/

The Ants & the Grasshopper

One bright day in late autumn a family of Ants were bustling about in the warm sunshine, drying out the grain they had stored up during the summer, when a starving Grasshopper, his fiddle under his arm, came up and humbly begged for a bite to eat.

“What!” cried the Ants in surprise, “haven’t you stored anything away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last summer?”

“I didn’t have time to store up any food,” whined the Grasshopper; “I was so busy making music that before I knew it the summer was gone.”

The Ants shrugged their shoulders in disgust.

“Making music, were you?” they cried. “Very well; now dance!” And they turned their backs on the Grasshopper and went on with their work.”

 The Library of Congress

10 thoughts on “Comfort in the Familiar”

  5. What a beautiful reflective post. Yes, in this world of unrest how much comfort can be found by the old, familiar and the memories stored to be rekindled of gentleness and a different place. I remember the ants and the grasshopper and have a longing now to find some of the old stories of my childhood. For some reason ‘What Kay Did’. came to mind. It was a well loved story when I was about ten. I remember reading it up a mango tree during a summer of high temperatures with the smell of grass and flowers everywhere. Enjoy the beauty of your burgeoning Spring.

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  6. I find the grasshopper a very sympathetic character. He created beauty. The ants are practical but they seem to expect free music. Reminds me of the talented people who play music in the subway stations or in public parks. Maybe I am reading too much into this little tale. But don’t we often approach old stories with new insight?

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