They miss so much who do not know

The simple joys of long ago

When life was lived with easy pace,

And thankful hearts said table grace.

When folks took time to be a friend,

A helping hand, so quick to lend.

When houses had a front porch swing,

(Oh, how we loved that creaky thing!)

On summer evenings friends would call

And they were welcome, one and all,

And Mom would serve homemade ice cream

As laughter from the porch would stream.

And vendors came to sell their wares;

The fun-filled trips to country fairs.

The concerts at the old bandstand

When music was so very grand!

They miss so much who never knew

Old-fashioned joys, such as I do.

The village church so gleaming white,

It's steeple bells that rang each night,

The solace that we all found there

As we met for a time of prayer.

Our values were quite different then,

Oh, time can't go back again!

We were not rich in days of yore,

But we had blessings by the score;

Our wealth was found in many things

From which the soul's contentment springs.

Our homes were filled with so much love,

Deep faith was ours in God above.

How much they miss who do not know

The lovely joys found long ago.

I wish that they could share with me

My pleasant trip in memory

Back to the good old-fashioned days

When life was lived in simple ways

Beverly J. Anderson (author)