Monday, November 23, 2015

Do you remember...

Do you remember the days when entertainment centered around people?
You invited people to your home, fellow-shipping and singing around the piano In the days before my time, before radio and TV, we entertained ourselves. I love to read books by authors Jane Austen
 
and Maud Montgomery and glimpse into times past when an evening of entertainment consisted of a skit, or a play or someone filling an evening by playing the piano or singing an aria. Since the days of electronics, we have even lost the art of correspondence of letter writing.
 
We now correspond instantly around the world, where it used to take weeks, sometimes months to hear from people in other states and countries. Now we text the person sitting across from us at the dinner table.

We have forgotten how to entertain ourselves. Perfection has wedged its way into our thinking.

It's a lost gift. During the days ahead, when family and friends gather around to celebrate the upcoming Christmas season, I hope the spark of fellowship and enjoyment will help us to remember how to entertain ourselves and relish time with others.

7 comments:

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Oh, yes, I do remember those days and I still enjoy them. I insist on no phones at the table when my boys are here and they are very good at not bringing them to the dinner table. When I have company in we always sit and chat over tea or coffee. No cell phones accompany them either. I guess my household is blessed that way. I know it's not that way in many homes and they are missing out on a lot of closeness and companionship. I will always read a real book because I don't like reading on the internet. I would love to have a library where I can have all my 'friends' but I do have several book shelves. Thank you for sharing this and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Autumn blessings,
Sandi

Snap said...

I do remember those days. Everyone usually gathered in or around the kitchen! Happy Thanksgiving!

Parsimonious Décor Darling said...

What a beautiful post. I try to take time to remember and instil those important values in my children. I am visiting you from the Rose Chintz Cottage.

LV said...

The human contact is just about gone. Tech has taken us over. I do not like it. I do not want to go backward, but do miss some of the old ways.

Bernideen said...

How true this is - about family time and time spent chatting at the table. I think you would love a book I recently read called "Wren Bay" by Clarice Fox Hughes. It is available on LULU. I am just starting her newest book. We will be moving next year and I am going to have a room for hospitality in my walkout basement. I hope to put my piano down there so by next Christmas hopefully - like you suggested - carols around the piano!

living from glory to glory said...

Hello, I just wanted to tell you that this post was so refreshing and so true. I feel really bad that we no longer enjoy the fellowship and conversations that use real words and feelings and emotions. We need real contact and joy and not to feel the isolation that comes with technology. I heard a sermon years ago that told us if you could see what was coming, you all would want to get rid of your television sets. Ah, he was right...
Happy Thanksgiving
Roxy

Beth in NEPA said...

No phones at our table! I LOVE to read too. I generally prefer real books but admit to carrying quite a few in my smartphone because sitting in an office waiting for an appointment, it is easy.
As someone who worked in television and have children in the business I don't want to get rid of it. But there should be a time and place.
I love it when I get to converse with folks from all over when they visit in my antique shop. We actually TALK. you can learn so much more that way.