Reviewing children’s picture books always makes me think. The books tend to be colourful and have good rhymes or at least a pleasing rhythm and often a story that is delightful, but simple. And yet, I am noticing that if I pause for even a few moments, there is often a profound message.
That’s what I found when I re-read “Old Hat New Hat.” A bear goes into a shop to buy a new hat, and after trying on a plethora of hats, decides that he prefers his own old hat.
Our world runs on consumerism – and we are constantly urged to get the newest _______________(fill in the blank.) The fashions change constantly so that we all (although we have ample clothes) will buy the latest. Even kitchenware is like that. “They” are always coming up with a new kitchen gadget…the Instapot, the air fryer, and on it goes.
New isn’t necessarily bad or necessarily good. It depends on our need and our situation. One of the ways I keep from spending money is to not go into a store. If I go in, I will be tempted to buy something even if I don’t need it. The same thing with shopping online. If I don’t click on whatever interesting thing pops up, then I won’t be buying. I regret the time I have wasted scrolling through appealing-looking items that I didn’t need, even when I didn’t end up buying something. It was still a waste of time, but I was attracted to the “new.”
Sometimes, obviously, we do need a new whatever. And that’s fine – let’s do the research and make a great purchase.
There are new things that don’t cost but that are remarkable – each new breath we take, each new morning, each new little baby created in God’s image. But then those old people? They’re valuable as well; they have life experience and wisdom. They should not be disregarded, but treasured. Old friends, tried and true, are invaluable. And then a really good book – those that we’ve read many times before, but still re-read now and then because they’re so good? Old, yes, but valuable.
Then there’s the Bible – it’s old and contains God’s wisdom and truth, ancient and dependable, but somehow as we read and reread it, we find new treasures!
Old and new! Both can have value.
