Lifetime Learners

Our lesson in one of our Sunday church classes was on the importance of continuing to learn throughout our lifetime.  As I listened to the encouragement of the teacher I couldn't help but think of some of those in my life that taught the importance of continually reading and learning, no matter how old or what y our circumstances.

My Grandma Ivie was an example to me of someone who sought all kinds of learning.  As a young lady she taught school, so education was always important to her.  What I remember about her was that she was always wanting to know more, about anything or everything she could.  Living on a fixed income, grandma didn't have a lot of money to buy fancy books, but she always made sure she purchased the readers digest each month.  You could always find copies of the two or three most recent editions on her porch reading stand during the summer or on her bedside table in the winter.   This precious storehouse of knowledge was not just tossed but stored in boxes and sacks in the room beyond the kitchen.  I believe, even in her late 90s grandma went a month without her monthly issue of knowledge.  As we grew we realized  no matter what subject we were learning in school, grandma knew all about it and had interesting facts our teachers had never thought of sharing.  If any of us ever needed an idea for a report, essay or other school paper we could depend on grandma to find one or more copies of the Readers Digest that would have information on a topic of interest.   I wonder how many of us grandchildren still depend on that small little magazine to enlighten, educate,  make one ponder or enjoy a moment of laughter each month.

I thought also of my Grandfather Pugh.  Even at 98  years of age, you could be sure that he would find time to sit down and read .each day  He had an old stuffed armchair he would sit in as he read.  The table next to him always contained a stack of books he was in the middle of reading.  Grandpa rarely read a book cover to cover.  He would read, take notes, and then often set it aside and come back to it hours or days later with a new perspective and/or questions to find answers to.  Although he read and studied many church books, he was also well versed in the classics.  He could tell the story of almost any classic we were studying in school, explaining not only plot and characters, but the emotions of the characters that were often overlooked or too hastily passed over in discussions.  I used to think grandpa had the most wonderful library upstairs.  He had an entire wall covered with bookcases full of books he had read, and two more glass front bookcases that held well worn editions, and a few first editions, and collections of college textbooks, reference books and school books.  While it sometimes seemed like a mess to grandma and I, grandpa knew where every book belonged.  He always knew if someone borrowed a book, and if  asked if he had a particular book or one containing a specific story, it would take him only a few minutes to hand you exactly what  was asked for (or needed).

So with this kind of a heritage is it any wonder I enjoy reading (and writing.)? I have been so blessed with wonderful examples of how to continually grow and learn, no matter what my present circumstances may be.  I hope that in some way I can reach a level even close to what they achieved and taught.  I guess, that itself, is part of the lifetime of learning - patience and perseverance.