January 12,1998
Dear Br. Aaron:
Several years ago, you and your brother were building a log cabin, did you ever finish it? If you had the choice, would you like to live as the pioneers did, in log cabins with no electricity, telephone, indoor toilets, or cars?
There are a lot of foolish people who think it is neat to live
as the pioneers did. I am acquainted with a man who resides near
our apartment, and has chosen to live that way, I guess he likes
it, although he isn’t married. Girls or women generally don’t
like to live as pioneers, it was a hard life then and it is still
a hard life, now. There was nothing romantic about being a pioneer.
Last time I wrote to you, I think I asked if you are developing
your artistic talents. Do you enjoy painting or drawing?
Several weeks ago, my sister sent one of my old elementary report
cards. I had a C in math (that never was a good subject for me,),
a C plus in civics or government which isn’t even taught
in public schools any more, a B in English and, an A plus in art.
I had forgotten these grades, but I do remember my art teacher,
he was a mean, old, grouchy man, or at least I thought he was
mean when I took his class.
Since my teenage years, I haven’t done anything with this
talent, but in the near future, I hope to revive it again and
start drawing nature pictures. I’m not very good at drawing
people because I can’t see them very well, but I enjoy nature,
so I will probably confine my talents in that direction.
I would be interested in seeing some of your pictures. Perhaps
you could send one of them, I promise to return it. What other
talents do you have besides building log cabins?
I’ve been trying to loose weight recently, and its hard going.
After a life time of eating candy, potato chips, Little Debbies
Snack Cakes, french fries, doughnuts, ice cream, popcicles, and
drinking tons of soft drinks, my poor diet caught up with me in
the form of many, many extra pounds of fat.
The only way to get ride of it is to eat less food then your body
needs to operate. But when a person gets as fat as I am, that
isn’t easy to do. It is better never to get fat then to loose
weight later.
Believe it or not, I was as thin as you are at one time in my
life. When I was your age, I ran and played, rode my bicycle,
chased the cat and did other things that used up the calories,
but as I grew older, and exercised less, the Little Debbies caught
up with me.
Your mother has taught you well to enjoy good food. You are very
fortunate to have a mother who knows how to cook and has taught
you these skills. While my mother didn’t know how to cook
vegetarian foods, we ate meat and mashed potatoes, I wish she
had taken cooking lessons from your mother, perhaps then I wouldn’t
be fat now.
However, Little Debbie’s, candy, and ice cream may taste
good to you but the more of these things you eat, the less you
will want your mother’s wholesome cooking. There is something
about candy that destroys an appetite for lentils, chick peas,
fresh salads, and fruit. When a boy has eaten a candy bar, he
doesn’t want these good things, because they don’t taste
good any more.
Your young enough to make choices. It would be better if you choose
the good food rather then food that is harmful and fattening.
You may laugh at the idea of getting fat, but just remember that
every fat person was a skinny boy or girl at some time in their
lives.
No one ever intends to get fat, it just happens because we make
wrong choices. Candy may taste good, but it will only hurt you.
You are a wise boy and I believe you will reject inducements to
eat the wrong type of food. You have seen what it did to me, believe
me, you don’t want to be fat like me or others you know.
It isn’t fun, especially when you have to go on a diet to
get ride of it.
A wise boy makes glad the heart of his mother and father. You
have good influences all about you, a wise boy discerns these
influences and chooses the right over the sweets.
May God bless you with good food, your brother in Christ.
Allen A. Benson