The weather is often topic for conversation, and I've noticed that the more people don't enjoy what ever weather it is, the more vocal they are about the topic. I admit, I have chimed in a time or twenty when I allowed the heat and humidity to make me cranky, but yesterday an old Amish "legend" came to mind. I hadn't thought about it in years, but it made me pause and think.
Old Ben was a cheerful man. No one in the community ever heard him speak anything other than uplifting things. His usual greeting whenever he met anyone was shöner Tag (beautiful day). When other farmers were stressing because of all the rain they had that kept them from working in their fields or a drought that was withering their crops, he happily went about his life declaring every day to be beautiful.
Sometimes others would try to point out the obvious to him. His hay was getting rained on and his grain fields were flattening, but he persisting in declaring it was a beautiful day, never once did anyone hear him complain about the weather.
Time kept passing and Old Ben continued growing older, and the day came when he died. The morning of his funeral day dawned and angry clouds came scuttling in, covering the sun. Fierce winds began to blow and rain came pouring. Thunder raged, lightning struck, and even hail pounded around the house as people walked past the coffin to say their final good byes.
The hardiest among them went to the cemetery for the burial. The grave already had a foot of water standing in it, but they went ahead and lowered him into it anyway and buried him in the middle of the storm, the dirt turning to mud as they dropped shovels full on top of his casket.
With their job complete, they turned to leave and one of the men remarked, "Even Old Ben would not have had anything good to say about the weather today."
From the grave a voice declared, "Shöner Tag!"
Did this actually happen? Eh ... I'm not saying it did, but that's what we were told growing up, and it does give food for thought.
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Good or bad everyday is a Blessing-take the weather out of the equation I wonder what people would talk about :)
ReplyDeletefiona
It is such an easy topic to talk about, isn't it? :)
DeleteA good way of breaking the ice for sure :)
Deletefiona
Here in Minnesota we love to talk weather because it is so extreme. It is just such a safe topic to talk about. I love talking weather.
ReplyDeleteEvery day of life we are given can surely be thought of as a beautiful day, especially if we are seeking to live each day to the glory of God.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this interesting legend. And I agree -- the weather is usually a safe and interesting topic!
The weather has certainly been the main topic of conversation around here this summer as we've hoped for rain and coolness as records have been broken for high temperatures and no precipition. Having said that, I agree that the weather is a safe topic and and good ice breaker. The legend does make one think though, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
Wet or dry, hot or cold, humid or not, I try to not grumble but this summer... *sigh* I'm still waiting for it to begin... Since each day is one that the Lord has made, we should rejoice! Thankful to be able to enjoy the softness of a gentle rain, the strength of the wind, the warmth of the sun and the coolness of a breeze in the shade. I will be "glad in it."
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad we can't control the weather. It keeps us humble and in awe of our Creator.
ReplyDeleteA standing joke in our area is that there is no use to talk about the weather because we only have two seasons, winter and the 4th of July.
Thank you for the story.
Ha ha, here we have the opposite!! Two seasons, December and SUMMER. :)
Deletetoday the temperature was 94 degrees. "Shaner Dog"
ReplyDelete