Do you have precious memories of America, the USA to be specific, and what general time period holds most of your precious memories? Obviously, the answer to this question will not be the same for every U.S. citizen, but I hope everyone can point to at least one time or another that holds some precious memories, regardless of how long or brief that time may have been.
As a baby-boomer, the 1950s, 1960s, and parts of the 1970s hold many of my favorite precious memories I fondly look back upon. In my case, these were my younger years of life. The baby boomer generation stretches from 1946 to 1964, so not all baby boomers can remember the 1950s, or even most of the 1960s.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only seven out of 100 citizens have reached my current age, equaling about 26 million of the United States total population in the latest census data.
I always tell younger people I feel sorry for them not to have experienced the 1950s or 1960s. For most of us, but of course not for all, it was a good time to be a young person in America.
There is way too much detail to go into here about the pros and cons of that period, but I can tell you from my personal experience of being a pre-teen, a teenager, and a young adult during that time, the pros greatly outweighed the cons. The following is just a sampling of pros.
It sounds like a cliché now to say that life was simpler back then, but it’s true. Family relationships were closer and greatly valued. Church life and the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by strong gospel ministers seemed to be more in the mainstream of life, and had a greater impact on home life, in the schools and the whole of society in general back then. We could play outside without adult supervision and not fear for our lives or being snatched away.
Not to mention that life was cheaper back then, and a dollar went further with full-size candy bars for a nickel, bottles of pop for a dime, three songs on the jukebox for a quarter, gasoline as low as 18 cents a gallon, and a couple of young people could go on a date, complete with a movie, a meal, and a tank of gas all for under ten dollars.
But then came the 1980s with high inflation and the start of the tech revolution with personal computers, etc., etc. High tech innovations in the medical field have been a God send, but in most other areas of life it has led to a gradual downhill slide in American and world societal life by destroying the age-old institution of the nuclear (close) family relationships we once had.
The high-tech influence on America has been very detrimental on the core of family life. In my view, it has been the equivalent of setting off millions of tiny nuclear bombs in most American homes with the intent to destroy traditional family life that had served America well over time.
Satan knows that if he can blow up family circles and gain control of the minds of youth at all levels of the educational system, then the destruction of America is well on its way to his goal.
I’ve been around long enough to witness the sunset years of the Lost Generation, the zenith of the Greatest Generation, the rise and fall of my own Baby Boomer generation, the rise of the Gen X generation, and the current digital generation of Millennials, heavily influenced by the rise of the glamorous, glitzy, and gossipy world of entertainment found on the internet, mobile phones, and all sorts of social media, promoted profusely by Hollywood and the sports world.
And then there is the increasing addiction to great power, pride, drugs, sex, and violence on a national and worldwide basis. All of which have the seal of approval by Satan and his minions in our current world. It is all in Satan’s playbook of evil, murderous, delusive and destructive acts.
Did you know Satan was originally a heavenly angel with the name of Lucifer? So-named for being one of the most beautiful of God’s angels (Lucifer means ‘shining brilliant one’) before being cast to Earth after leading a rebellion against God. It is no wonder that Satan likes to sponsor glamorous, glitzy things on Earth. He still thinks of himself as the shining brilliant one.
The increasingly sad situation in the USA and around the world makes it easy for believers in Jesus Christ (Christians) to see and anticipate all the prophesied Biblical signs of the end times as they all come rapidly together, manifesting themselves one by one, to lead us up to the Rapture (snatching away) of all Christians on Earth prior to the horrific Great Tribulation Period.
As kids, my generation did not live in fear and worry about being snatched away by evil people. But now many of us baby boomers, and others, now wait and watch in great expectancy to be snatched away by Jesus Christ when He returns for us in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
You too can be in this group, for “God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in His Son [Jesus Christ], shall not perish, but have eternal life [in heaven]” (John 3:16).
I wrote this poetic ode about the America I once knew and loved in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
Have a happy and blessed 250th anniversary on July 4th this year, my dear America. God Bless America! The Bible says those who support and bless Israel, God’s chosen people, will themselves find blessing. I believe this is the main reason God still blesses America in many ways yet today.
PRECIOUS MEMORIES OF YOU, AMERICA
By Dale V. Nobbman
Precious memories of you, America, will never fade away
I recall all our days together as though they were yesterday
And as long as my life endures, I will always remember you
No matter how bad you get and no matter what you may do
I will always cherish those very precious memories of you
When I think of all the good times and how they used to be
I feel heartwarming feelings of joy come sweeping over me
For I do remember all the laughs and the big dreams we had
All those memorable simple times that made us feel so glad
And I will always remember those precious memories of you
Once, we did feel united, but time has since brought change
Without that feeling here and now, it sure does seem strange
Yet during all those dark days when you get me feeling sad
It is still so nice to think back on those special times we had
Yes, I am very grateful for those precious memories of you
But now I have come to realize, no matter how hard I may try
I will never keep ongoing time from rolling on and passing by
So, to treasure those precious, good times I once had with you
Seems to be the only thing left, my dear America, for me to do
And be so very thankful for all those precious memories of you
Precious Memories…How They Linger.