Monday, April 22, 2019

Is it time yet?




Is it time yet mama, can I go barefoot? That was the number one question come spring. We’d see the dogwoods in bloom or the redbud trees and always commence to pull our shoes off. The older people always said wait till the first of May or you’ll catch ye death of cold. I know for a fact my daddy never pulled his long johns off till the first of May. He still wore his long sleeve shirts till mama made him change to short sleeves. He always said he was afraid he’d take cold. It didn’t matter if it got ninety degrees in the shade and in his older years he had such bad circulation that we might see him put his overcoat on in the middle of the summer.

As for going barefoot, when the shoes came off they stayed off all summer long till school started. When we hit the door in the evening, off came the shoes. We’d toughened our feet so and stumped our toes off so bad it was hard to put on a pair of shoes and wear em all day. We walked the paved road so much going to the store or getting milk from the neighbors that we stumped our toes till there was nothing left but a stub.

It wasn’t that we didn’t appreciate a new pair of shoes when school started we just couldn’t stand wearing em and it hurt our stumped toes and calloused feet. We knew we had to make them shoes last as long as possible cause there was no money to run back and forth to the store buying a new pair. The boys were more rough on their shoes than me and my one and only sister which happened to be a lot younger than me was the biggest tomboy to ever come along. She wore out as many pairs as the boys and had her head stuck in something all the time. 

We run through the thickets and briars till our feet were tough as a pine knot. Those mud holes just about did us in. We’d bust every one of those suckers dry and that toe itch was a killer. Mama would say, “don’t complain to me, ye know what did it.” That never stopped us none cause those mud holes were hard to resist.
I never see or hear of a young’un anymore going barefoot and it’s a shame. I even admit in my older years my feet are so tender I can’t stand to walk on the ground to save my life. I walk around barefoot in the house all day long but I gotta have an old pair of flip flops on when I go outside. 

I sure do miss those days of going barefoot even if we wore our feet out and the joys of running through those big, grassy fields will last a life time. And every spring I still hear those words, is it time yet mama, can I pull my shoes off ?

                                             © Susie Swanson, 2019

 Hope you all had a nice Easter. It was a chilly day here but lots of sunshine. Wishing you all a nice week and still praying for lots of folks on here. Blessings, ~Susie~

Thursday, April 11, 2019

The Wonders Of Nature


                                               A little deer standing by the roadside
                                               looking back and forth, to and fro
                                               wondering if it should run and hide
                                               and which way it should go



                                               A long neck crane standing in the creek
                                               an awesome sight to see
                                               attempting to grab food, it takes a peek
                                               then flies away with it's large, majestic wings




                                             A large hawk sitting in a tree
                                             looking around for its prey
                                             whatever that may become or be
                                             it'll never have a chance to get away




                                           A strange flock of birds fly in
                                           from some place faraway and unknown
                                           on nature's food they do depend
                                           they're here for a time and then they're gone




                                           A little rabbit sits in the clover
                                           everyday it sits in the same spot
                                           late in the evening when the day is over
                                           I can tell by the clover it never eats alot




                                           A large raccoon visits from time to time
                                           searching for something to eat
                                           up the creek bank he does climb
                                           grabs what he can and runs back to his retreat




                                          A hoot owl makes his presence known
                                          in my yard each and every night
                                          he'll hoot until the break of dawn
                                          and then return again the very next night




                                          The squirrels are never a stranger and always there
                                           running this way and that
                                           hoping the birds will kindly share
                                           each day they grow more big and fat

                                          These wondrous sights my eyes do behold
                                           takes my breath away and fills my heart with pride
                                           to know that nature can be so bold
                                           in a place where I live and abide

                                          © Susie Swanson, 2019


Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Quilt Holes




As I faced my Maker at the last judgement,I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.
Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles: an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me and nodded for me to rise.
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life and laughter, but there had also been trials of illness and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over many times.I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would melt within my skin beneath the judgemental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.
And now I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.
I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.
An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.
Then I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in his eyes. He said " Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let me shine through, until there was more of me than there was of you".

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!

Author Unknown..

Thought I'd share this with you all in hopes someone will get a blessing from it as much as I have. Prayers for many folks on here and wishing you a Happy and Healthy April.  ~Susie~