My sunshine ligustrum is dancing around as the wind catches her branches, and a cottontail rushes across my neighbors yard trying to get home before the downpour, I suppose. Another glance from my keyboard shows me pieces of mulch flying across the lawn. These strong gusts give me one more chore on my gardening to do list.
My list is never ending really, but it helps me to stay focused on my priorities. I wonder if my Mamaw kept a to do list? I never saw her making one or marking things off as she got to them, but she whiled away many, many hours in her garden.
I can see her in my mind’s eye resting on her hoe. Her eyes were not a bright blue. As I recall they had a sort of faded look, but oh how they twinkled when she got tickled at something. Her lined face broke out into a smile quite often adding even more lines.
It’s funny that I’m getting to the age to have wrinkles myself, and I don’t like them one bit! Back in the day I don’t think people were so wrapped up in their looks. I never remember Mamaw mentioning her wrinkles except to laugh at a remark one of her grandchildren made about her saggy arms.
Come to think of it, Mamaw was much more concerned about showing a kindness, or sewing something beautiful, or creating an exceptionally tasty dish than she was about how many wrinkles she had. Ouch! So many times when I’m writing I see something that I need to think about. It’s almost as if the words come from somewhere else, and I read them for the first time along with any other reader.
The wind has died down and a dove coos as the gentle rain replenishes the parched yard. I love the sound and the stillness of this moment now that my puppy has settled down for her nap. I wonder how much money I have spent on face cream in my life? I don’t skimp on it, so it’s a lot.
I have been noticing more and more homeless in our area, and think the population of people challenged with housing issues is more prevalent across our land. I don’t know what the statistics are, but I can see for myself. It makes me a little ashamed of wasting money when others have so little. I always looked at people in this situation with what was akin to scorn in my younger days.
Now, I see them with more compassionate eyes. I can hear my younger self say, “There are job wanted signs everywhere! There is no excuse. These people are lazy!” But now I look at their plight and wonder if they know Jesus loves them? I wonder if they know that others care? Would they feel more comfortable at an open-air church service than a traditional one? It’s something to think about.