I was writing an email to a friend tonight and it triggered a memory...

I was just reminded of very hot sunny days hoeing the garden (mostly corn and tobacco). The particular memory was one in which Mom, Dad, my brother and I joined in with my Nannie and Papaw J and my Mom's brothers in some very large family fields in Stecoah, NC.

The first rows went so easily (especially since they were short rows in the corner of the garden). You could look back at that block and see something accomplished. But to look out towards all that lay ahead was dizzying. Hoeing those large fields was not always accomplished in a day, and we did only a row at a time each of us working along side the other. Sometimes those who got ahead (mostly Dad and my uncles) would finish their row and begin on one of our rows and work backwards to meet those of us who were slower so that we could all catch up for a moment and rest together before continuing on.

In this way it was not discouraging that someone was quicker and better at hoeing than you, but you were encouraged and kept going. May we work side by side and when one lags behind finish your own row and step over and hoe to the middle so that we may all stop and catch our breath and give thanks for what has been done and be encouraged to hoe on!