We enjoy talking about what is going on in our world, but where do we find answers for our hopes and fears? Here are some of my parents’ thoughts while watching the Nazi leadup to World War II after experiencing the Great Depression.
(11/6 45) The many broken homes and marriages of today, point to the fact, that the young people of this land, express their emotions with little thought of true love, as God would have us love.…God also said; To suffer little children to come unto him. It is a shame that they are given so little consideration, but left by the parents to be brought up in an institution or by foster parents.…True love; whether between two men, two women or a man and a woman, must surely be a culmination of true friendship and understanding and as such, cannot be realized instantly.
(11/11 53) Today we had an Armistice program at school. The speaker told of the horrors of war and then mentioned that the clouds of war are lowering over us. It rather worried me. I can’t understand why people are unable to live peaceably together but then I realize that I get angry and say cutting remarks that can cause hurt feelings so it is only God can help humanity thru the peace of Christ to live harmoniously together.…Walter, I just don’t know what to write or how to express myself in regard to the last part of your letter. I do believe that God does want His children to love one another, to be wedded into a holy matrimony, and to build and maintain Christian homes. I believe that is his holy plan of continuing the Christian race. I have had a Christian home for which I truly thank God. It is sad to see and think of what condition unchristian families live in. But it is a joy to see a family who has the Unseen Guest always in their home. Peace and Love reign supreme and the result is happiness.
(11/11 56) These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you may have peace. John 16: 33. Nineteen years ago, we all felt, that we would have peace in the world. To most of us, the signing of the armistice meant peace. Long before, even the beginning of this war and others Christ spoke the words above. It is sad that we must ever seek the hard way. Our statesmen, seemingly rack their brains for a way to promote peace. I wonder if it is a confidence, in our own ability which causes us to overlook the simple way that our savior offered.
(11/18 59) Concerning war; our armistice day programs seem a farce to me. We talk of peace and prepare for war. The way to educate for peace, is as you say, with God’s help and thru his word. Only He can so instill love in our hearts, that we will not desire to war against our fellowmen, but will love them and share with them, our many blessings thru Him our Savior.…Speaking of literature; there is now on the market a book, by Dale Carnegie [How to Win Friends and Influence People], that is certainly worth any ones time and thought. Over 600,000 copies have been sold, so I am sure you can obtain a copy, if not I should be happy to send mine to you.
(11/25 67) Dear Margaret: Thou art my God, and I will give thanks unto thee; / Thou art my God, I will exalt thee. / Oh give thanks unto Jehovah for he is good; / For his loving kindness endureth forever. Psalm 118; 28,29. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Cor. 9; 15.…Many people are this day celebrating a day; set aside by our president, after a custom established by our forefathers many years ago. To celebrate; it is such a general word and to my mind it brings a picture of hilarity and wantonness. So it is, with many; it means excessive eating and especially drinking of alcoholic liquors. I dread to pick up the papers tomorrow, for I know what the headlines will contain, a statement of holiday deaths with many more permanently injured.
(11/27 71) I haven’t heard about the book by Dale Carnegie, which you mentioned. It is difficult for me to get a hold of the most recent books as I seldom get to the libraries or bookstores that carry the most recent books. If it wouldn’t be too much bother, I would like to read your copy.
(12/4 73) Yesterday the pupils were excused to see the movie “The Road Back” by Erich Remarque, a German novelist. Once while in college, I heard Remarque lecture. My father gave the book “All Quiet on the Western Front” to Bernard. This “The Road Back” is a sequel to “All Quiet on the Western Front.” I saw the movie last Friday also. It surely pictures war as my brother would describe it. He didn’t want to talk about it at all as it was so gruesome. I wish that greed and hatred were not in the human heart. Maybe then, however, we wouldn’t long so for heaven. I am thankful that my two brothers came home safely and soundly.
(12/9 93) I neither saw nor read, Remarque’s sequel to “All quiet on the Western Front,” but I both read and saw the latter. It certainly pictures the horror of War. May God grant us, to be our Ally both in and out of War, especially our continual war against sin.
(1/7 113) I was quite encouraged by the market reports, I heard yesterday, at the farmers institute, in Greeley. It is a three day meeting, for Weld County farmers. They have a large seed exhibit and a full program, of competent speakers on the various problems, which confront the farmer.
(1/11 119) The book by Carnegie is very interesting. This writer is giving a lecture every Tuesday evening at 9:45 over N.B.C. We planned to listen in but didn’t succeed very well.
(2/5 176) It is too bad that the stock market has gone down. I don’t understand why it must fluctuate so much. Ebba [Margaret’s oldest sister] read about the schools in N. D. that are having to close unless the U. S. government gives financial aid. We don’t belong to that group of schools.
