Lookin’ For Mayberry

Andy Griffith is my all-time favorite show. Every day at lunch-time my folks would watch it and now, a day doesn’t go by that an Andy Griffith line doesn’t fit in somewhere. For example, when the weather is not to your liking you say, “Everyone complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” Or when something must be done immediately and thoroughly, “Fast, clean.” Then there’s my favorite, when something goes wrong, “Call the man!” The entertainment was clean and wholesome. It was a show that found humor in the ordinary day in and day out of life. The town of Mayberry depicted a simpler time; predictable and stable, a forgotten way perhaps. A place where everything was still black and white.

A family friend of ours once said, “Home is where you raise your kids.” Perhaps it was a little bigger than Mayberry, but the town I grew up in had the same hometown feel. People knew their neighbors and the latest stories from the morning paper. There was a local hardware store, grocery store, and barbershop. It was a place where a leisurely bike ride through town would always end with a sweet treat from the timeless classic of, Zesto. Pierre, South Dakota is located in the heart of cowboy country, so, of course, we had the annual Fourth of July parade and rodeo. Our parade came with a horse and rider section which held flags from all fifty states and a rodeo that never disappointed with its saddle bronc and bull riding! It was a town where children still walked to school, field trips were common-place and cupcakes were a standard birthday treat. Sunday mornings always drew a crowd and for our church, this was no exception. In part, because our dad was the pastor. Most stores were closed on Sundays and people enjoyed time with their families. December brought crackling fireplaces, snow and Christmas trees that lined the Capital building. Some things never change.

No longer living in a small town but in a larger city, I find myself, lookin’ for Mayberry. Wondering silently, where it all went? A small-town girl with small-town ways could get lost in a big city like this, if I wasn’t intentional, that is. At first, I tried to keep up with all the ripping and running but I quickly realized that wasn’t for me, or my family. I was reminded of my growing up years and how my parents intentionally made sure life stayed slow and easy. They set limits on our extra-circular activities and how much time we spent away from the home. There were chores to be done and homework to be checked. We had a set supper time, family time and bedtime. It was not complicated but it was structured. It is not what we do once that brings results. It is what we do over and over again.

In a fast-paced society, success moves slowly. Success will require a constant effort to maintain a life of stability, with values that are black and white. Mayberry is not just a fictional town. It’s a way of life. It’s an atmosphere you create, and restrictions you set. My husband and I have something profound we do when we notice life is getting too hectic, we STOP. We are determined to live our lives at home, together, with a Mayberry feel. We set limits on trips, family visits, birthday parties, work, church functions, and other activities. We cannot expect a strong home if our foundation is constantly moving. The fast and furious comes to everyone but that should be the exception not the rule. I heard it put best, “Some people seek beautiful places while others make places beautiful.” I don’t want to spend my life Lookin for Mayberry, I want to create it, right where I am.

My people will live in safety, quietly at home and they will be at rest. Isaiah 32:18

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