Month: May 2016

 

As I looked out my window I could see the sun was just about to drop below the tree line.  It was sending perfect little beams of light that made everything look like it wore a halo.   We were home before dark and had already finished dinner and that NEVER happens.  Our Farmer was still busy on a tractor so I made a spontaneous decision the dishes could wait just a little longer and decided we were going on an adventure!  As a child growing up in the Appalachian mountains I’ve always been fascinated exploring the hills, valleys, and streams, and some of my fondest memories involve a walk in the woods.  I hope to pass that same love and appreciation down to my daughter and that can’t happen easily inside the walls of my home.

At the word “adventure” my daughter began to jump up and down in excitement and ask a dozen questions.  “Where are we going Mommy?  What are we going to do?    Can the puppies go with us?  What about Daddy?”  To be honest I had no idea.  I had just been drawn to the little path that leads down into our forest and figured we would make it up as we went.

Claire has seen too many episodes of Dora the Explorer.  She quickly went into a frenzy searching for a  backpack to put her treasures in.  She has a knack for collecting things in the wild with a special fondness for rocks and clearly expected to be successful in her hunt.  This gal takes “pet rock” to a whole new level!  We finally compromised on carrying an old flower pot to gather our findings and off we went.

I ignored the alerts for texts, emails, and social media notifications minus snapping a few quick photos to share with Dad when we got home (well…and now you).  Instead I soaked in the amazing beauty of all of God’s creations and let my daughter have my undivided attention.  It was a little slice of Heaven on Earth.  I got to see the world through her eyes which is far more beautiful than my own.  We stopped along the way to see some red clover flowers our Farmer had planted as a cover crop to feed deer a few years back.  Laying up against a nearby tree we discovered a half buried old Pepsi-Cola bottle.  This was the hidden treasure she was anticipating and we consumed several minutes removing this artifact from the soil to carry with us. Children are so inquisitive.  She questioned out loud how it got there and who drank from it.  Good Question!  Maybe her great-grandfather as he butchered a hog to feed the family?  Maybe an old helper on the farm parched from stacking bales of hay in the Summer heat?  I LOVE all things “old” with a history and a little mystery so upon research have since found out its from the 1960’s.

We continued on down the trail where we discovered a set of deer tracks and traced it until it disappeared into the thicket.   Next she spotted some “beautiful flowers” up ahead.  They ended up being boysenberry bushes which lead our conversation to explaining how every flower would be a yummy berry come June.  Another few steps up the trail and Claire found this frog…how she saw it still amazes me.  She didn’t want to touch him but was happy to get down on his level and ask him if he was lost from his Mommy and Daddy!

 

Claire was becoming concerned that our pets were going to get lost in the woods and had begun campaigning to turn around.  In desperation to hold on to this adventure just a few moments longer I told her there was a surprise up ahead.  “Surprise” yielded the same response as “adventure” earlier.  The problem was I had no idea what the surprise actually would be and she’s got the memory of an elephant.  I was going to have to wing this and just hope we stumbled across something cool that would satisfy her!

As we rounded a curve I could see just up ahead laid my saving grace.  I prompted Claire to be extra quiet and to not move as we watched a flock of wild turkeys quickly disappear into the trees at the scent of us.   Turkeys have some of the keenest senses in the woods and unlike their domestic counterparts can fly quite efficiently.  The look on her face was priceless!  Did you know that the wild turkey is the ONLY livestock animal we have domesticated that is originally from North America?  There is an interesting American myth that even Ben Franklin made a hard case for why the turkey should have beat out the Bald Eagle as our national symbol  (the Smithsonian magazine has a great article explaining this further).  The commercial turkey though bred to be larger than their wild counterparts has become quite important to our economy.  North Carolina ranks second in the nation in turkey production and poultry is the number one facet of the agricultural industry in NC.

We were beginning to lose daylight quickly so my next objective was to get ourselves home before the swamp mosquitoes carried us away!   She picked up her glass bottle and pot and we headed for home.  As we retraced our steps I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the evening.  It gave me a great opportunity to say a prayer of thanksgiving and reflect on our trek.  I walked in awe of the moments I would have missed had I let Claire sit in front of the TV while I cleaned up dinner!

Here is what I have concluded:  I am recharged when surrounded in nature.  The birds singing and crickets chirping soothe my soul and clear my mind of stress.  The mountains of paperwork and laundry awaiting my attention fade into the background for just a few minutes.   The absence of other people is cause to be tuned in to the melody of the birds and frogs.  I really find myself thinking just like Job in chapter 12: 7-10:

7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; ⁸ or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. ⁹ Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? ¹⁰ In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

We finished up our hike with one last stop at an ant mound.  How diligently they were all working!  Even with these tiny creatures there was clearly a purpose driving them in their efforts.  How amazing it would be if all of mankind had that same eagerness in their efforts to serve Him!

As for the glass bottle, it became the most beautiful vase in our eyes.  As the sun made its last attempt at holding onto the day we picked Daylilies and Clematis to add to the bottle.  The petals have since wilted on our kitchen table but the memory of this evening will be filed in my heart for a lifetime…but nothing in comparison to what Isaiah 40:8 reads:

“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of God remains forever.”

What better time than tomorrow to take your own hike!  No need for iTunes, the natural sounds are the perfect backdrop.  Check out local parks or take an early morning walk in your neighborhood and listen to the sweet music of the birds.  I pray you focus on the masterpiece God has created and encourage those you love to do the same…and until next time remember that Jesus loves you!

 

I was given this silver jewelry box after my maternal grandmother passed away.  It was a bittersweet time.  We knew she was relieved of her burdens and was celebrating in Heaven…but we cried because we had to live here without her sweet presence and wisdom.  In the box I noticed a small piece of newspaper at the bottom likely placed there many moons ago.  It was an unintended message from her to me as a reminder of how I should live my life.  I’d like to share with you a few things she taught me:

• I learned that hard work pays off as she instructed me how to properly snap beans and shuck corn.  My very first exposure to agriculture!  Family young and old gathered on the large back porch to see that the bounty was prepped and ready to be either canned, dried, or frozen to preserve for upcoming months.  The magical Earthy smell and chill of her potato cellar complete with rugged stone walls and rustic shelves was always a favorite hiding spot.  Hundreds of canning jars would line the walls full of the garden’s harvest, representing a huge investment of time and sweat equity.
• I learned how patience is a virtue and quality should always be sought over quantity.  During my stays at her house I would be in awe of her talent as she spent hours crocheting and sewing the most beautiful clothing to care for her family and home.  You can’t buy those items at Wal-Mart I assure you.

This cape my grandmother crocheted and wore.  It is one of my most cherished items.  

• I learned that singing was a great way to worship.  On Sunday mornings I always enjoyed sharing a pew with her because I knew I would get a piece of butterscotch candy (I think this is a classic “Grandma” thing).  Her alto voice with the folksy Appalachian edge singing “Just As I Am” was one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard.  She’d hum hymns as she washed dishes, made her famous angel biscuits, or worked in the garden.  It was a constant reminder of praising God through all the tasks of the day.

My paternal grandmother was a saint in her own ways.  We teach our children more through our actions than our words.  She was tiny in stature but strong in faith.  She had the sweetest smile and laugh and could make the best beef stew around.  She taught me quite a few life lessons too…

Meeting my daughter for the first time.  

• I learned the power of prayer.  My grandma was the fiercest prayer warrior I have ever met.   At my my challenging moments in life it was my instinct to dial up Grandma and ask her to pray for me.  I had seen and heard her in action and knew that her loyalty to God first and family second would be the best protection I could seek.  As a child I vividly remember our bedtime ritual on occasions when we got to have a sleepover.  She would pray the most humble and authentic prayer to God out loud that would lull me to sleep.  She prayed as if she was truly having a conversation with her best friend.  To hear her lift my name up in prayer in my presence without any hesitation has stuck with me all my life.  She was unwavering in her faith and conditioned me to go to prayer without any hesitation, knowing that God is the ultimate healer and protector, and the best listener you can ever imagine.
• I learned to not be afraid to share God’s love with others.  She didn’t work outside the home and wasn’t much of a traveler but within the realm of her interactions she would never hesitate to give God all the glory for her blessings and provisions…I’ve seen her share her love of God with K-Mart cashiers, doctors, the mail man, and strangers walking down her road.   At times I have even been guilty of thinking, “Oh Grandma, not now…”, but shame on me.  In a world where people sometimes are afraid to share their faith for being judged by others she had no reservations.  How much I now pray for that same boldness in my own life!

As Mother’s Day approaches and I reflect on the impacts these two women made in my life I know that others can relate with their own experiences.  Proverbs 31 is a popular chapter in describing a virtuous woman by Biblical standards.  As I read the verses I reflect on how perfectly my grandmothers were role models for myself and other women in their lives.  As a woman of God I am also reminded of how I should be striving to serve others before myself…even in a society that many live out a “me first” attitude.

Proverbs 31: 10-31

¹⁰ Who can find a capable wife?
She is far more precious than rubies.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.
¹² She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.
¹⁵ She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and portions^[k] for her female servants.
¹⁶ She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.
¹⁷ She draws on her strength
and reveals that her arms are strong.
¹⁸ She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.
¹⁹ She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰ Her hands reach out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.
²² She makes her own bed coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts to the merchants.
²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she can laugh at the time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom
and loving instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the activities of her household
and is never idle.
²⁸ Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
²⁹ “Many women are capable,
but you surpass them all!”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
³¹ Give her the reward of her labor,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.

Wow.  That passage never gets old (even though I am…ah the gray hairs arriving daily!).  Every time I read it again I seem to be drawn to different words depending on my current season in life, and obstacles I may be enduring.  What season are you in?  Are you struggling to balance being a working mom with the responsibilities of home?  Are you exhausted with feelings of not meeting the high expectations of others around you?  Do you get frustrated with disciplining your children and feel like you’re not making progress?  Have you recently been brought to tears at the stress of financial woes?  Does the weight of the world’s view of beauty make you feel inadequate?

YOU’RE NOT ALONE.

At times we can have doubts and fears but God gives us all the instruction we need to keep moving forward and experience strength and joy.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

Ladies (ALL ladies, even if you have not bore a child you still hold a great deal of influence on people all around you!)  let’s enjoy our one day and then get back to work…we’ve got lots to do in the world in sharing God’s love with others and clearly idle hands yield no progress!

P.S.  If you’re never heard of Proverbs 31 ministry and enjoyed this blog, look them up online and on social media.  They can be a great source of encouragement and insight on the daily challenges of being a woman of God!