How I miss Ma and Pa

I'll offer ten bucks to anyone who can name a character on television today remotely like that of Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie.  Hard working, humble, loyal to his wife, a good father, religious, a pillar in the community, family oriented, cries occasionally and, yes, ruggedly handsome.

I have 18 episodes of Little House on the Prairie on my DVR.  I recorded these in desperation to find something of value my daughter would have to watch on TV.  You see, at almost 8 years old, she is getting a little old for animated shows on noggin and I won't let her watch iCarly.  Thankfully, she has taken an interest in the adventures of Laura, Mary, Carrie, Ma and Pa.

Today we watched the episode "The Lord is My Shepherd".

I have to admit that watching this one gets me EVERY TIME.  Laura runs away from home thinking that her bad thoughts about her little brother caused God to take him.  She climbs to the highest spot she can find and prays to God (on multiple occasions, no less) to take her and send back her little brother to her Pa.  While on this mountain, a mystical mountain man takes care of her and talks to her about her faith and of God. 

So, in essence, this entire episode, 40 minutes of 1974 prime time television was about a little girl's faith and philosophy about God.  She is comforted, redirected, and reunited with her earthly father in a tearful reunion.  She is shepherded on her journey and Charles is shepherded on his journey to be reunited with her.  She prays and discovers that God's answers aren't always what you think they should be. That God knows what God wants - and we are not always in the loop.

Can you imagine that in today's prime time offering of Modern Family, Gossip Girl and Revenge?  I do believe that Michael Landon is turning over in his grave.