The American Dream

Rev. Shirley J Cunningham 6/12/2011

OUR FAMILY

I keep hearing about the American Dream. What is it? I really don’t know. I do know what it was for my grandparents.

My grandparents, lived on a farm, raised three children, cows, chickens, pigs, wheat and corn, etc. My grandma made a garden and canned food to get through the year. She cooked on a coal stove, and they kept warm in the Illinois winters with a fireplace. The kids did their school work by lantern. I can even remember my mom lighting a lamp for me when I was in grade three and doing homework by lantern in the cold winters of Ohio where we lived at that time. I also remember sleeping with a quart jar of hot water at my feet when the winters were so cold. It helped keep you warm for awhile.

They had more than most as my grandpa was able to buy a car to transport his family. Even though my mom told me of the days she walked or rode a horse to school, they were quite happy. Mom said it was a treat to get an apple or orange on Christmas morning. How would any of our young couples today handle all of that?

No electricity. That eliminates lights, running water, tv, radio, computers, internet, and the list goes on.

I even remember my mother getting the old kitchen cook stove heated up and bathing us kids by the oven door so we did not freeze. She learned that from my grandma I’m sure.

The American Dream, What could it have been? When my grandparents retired, they moved to town and bought a house that had a bathroom, electricity, two bedrooms, one bathroom, one living room and one dining room. That was the American Dream. From the Farm to the City (a small town in this case) . Wow, that was really awesome.

But today, most would look down on all of this luxury. That is unless you lived in a third world country like India or Africa. Many of them could dream the real American dream.

WHAT IS THE REAL AMERICAN DREAM? HERE IS WHAT IT SOULD BE.

A roof over your head that is filled with cleanliness and love.

Food on your table, cooked on a gas or electric stove. Electricity that will give us lights and cool air in our homes.

A car that runs good, and money to buy the gas for it. That is a problem in our day.

The American Dream does not have to be mansions, millions and boats and condos and the lifestyle of the wealthy. Get real and get back to basics and reality.

Get back to God and His Son Jesus Christ. Pastors, preach the Word and teach the people about faith and love.

Get real and you can have the American Dream as it was intended to be. And by the way, if you put the Lord Jesus Christ in charge of your life, you will have all you need and peace along with it. Is it time to rethink the American Dream? I think we already have it. Let’s hold on to it.

Rev. Shirley J Cunningham

Someone To Care International Ministries, Inc.