Legend
Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.
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One of the first books I wanted to check out of the library when I was six years old was a huge tome containing the fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm. Of course, most of them were far beyond my ability; however, I understood enough to be fascinated by these legends that were originally intended to scare little kids into behaving themselves. When my dad saw what I wanted to take home, he leafed through it and suggested I try something more suited to my age. He was right, and I went home with a collection of fairy tales more suitable for an impressionable child.
And that was the beginning of my fascination with all the legends of all the history of mankind. As I gained in reading ability and understanding, I got into things like the Illiad and the Odyssey, and all the pantheon of Greek and Roman gods and their adventures. As I developed an interest in American history, I got to know Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, Ichabod Crane, Pecos Bill, and many others.
I especially enjoyed the legends of King Arthur and Camelot as I first read them. The versions written for children left out the ugliness, lust, jealousy, and treachery.
Having grown up on a steady diet of the Bible, I was fascinated when I learned that every civilization in history has a Flood legend. Some of them are very close to the biblical account. And then, of course, the Native American legends of creation, animals, spirits, floods, fire, mountains and rivers are too numerous to count.
The common thread in all of these legends is the importance of story. Story keeps our history fresh; it records customs, traditions, and behavior both good and evil. Usually, there is a hero/heroine, or both, who save their people from some great evil.
There is only one story, however, that provides a Savior for all mankind. That story is the story of Jesus, Whose birth we will celebrate in just a few more days.
Just Writing! 