In the first chapter of The Swiss Family Robinson, I was really struck by this interchange between father and 14-year-old son:
“I am afraid, Fritz,” I [the father] said, “that God, for some wise purpose, no doubt, has decided that we must spend our lives here in exile. I see no prospect of ever getting off this island.”
“Well,” he replied encouragingly, “it is not such a bad place after all, and I see no reason why, when we are all together, we should not be as happy here as elsewhere.”
Now that’s contentment!
A bit later, as they are returning to the tent they have constructed from poles and a salvaged sail from their wrecked ship, where mother and the other three boys await them, they speak of reaching “home.” All it took for them to consider the tent “home” was that the whole family was there.
Very inspiring!
Off to read chapter 2.
Mary Jo