Thursday, February 14, 2008

Little House on the Prarie Meditations

So, I have recently become "re-obsessed" with Little House on the Prairie. I own Seasons 1-4. Right now I have 2 more episodes to go before I am done with Season 4 and then I don't know what I will do. I know that in the last two episodes a baby will be added to the Ingall's family and Mary will begin to lose her eyesight. I have been putting off watching the last two episodes because I do not have season 5 and then I will be stuck.

Two days ago, Alicia and I sat down and watched an episode. A boy, Peter, comes to stay with the Ingalls family in hopes that he will build character. He has been stealing and acting up at a private school his father sends him to and is the nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Olson (if that tells you anything).
Charles Ingalls knows exactly what to do with the boy and he turns his life around.

Granted, this is a TV show but Alicia and I started discussing why Charles Ingalls can fix just about everything and we came up with a conclusion. The thing about Charles is that he lives out his vocation as a man in such a way that everyone around him knows how to live out their vocation as a man or woman. He treats everyone around him in a way that brings out his or her personal abilities and special vocation. When Peter comes Charles is very stern with him but praises him in a way the boy has never been praised before. He says that Peter does a man's work and the he (Charles) has a hard time keeping up with him. He doesn't make fun of him when he doesn't know how to swim, instead he tells him that he will teach him and throws him in the water.

Alicia and I went on to discuss how some men in our lives were like Charles and some were not. When one lives out their vocation they allow others to live out theirs. There's something about the love for others and their own vocation that makes you want to live out yours.

P.S.
I did figure out when/why were are supposed to cover up the statues but I have class in 15 minutes so I'll post later (or tomorrow).

3 comments:

Sacred Heart Catholic Church said...

What a beautiful insight into the Charles Ingalls character. Thanks for posting this.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely wonderful post! It even helped me to reflect on my own vocation!

There's a prayer that I say every morning that someone gave me for vocations that I really like. It goes like this:

God, who inflames the hearts of the faithful, help me to know my true vocation in life and the grace (and courage) to follow it faithfully until the end. (I always add the courage part myself.)

I hope that more people pray that prayer, so that they can better live out their own vocation!

God bless!

Kim Burmeister said...

This is a great series and you have made me think of it in a way I have not done before. Thanks for the great insight and I think you need the next season for a present. Hint, hint...MOM!