Lost Art of Porch Sittin’
If a picture could tell a story… then this picture collage would tell the story of a mommy in waiting, a Swingie in (adoption) waiting, and a little children’s boutique, picking out bow colors for bloomers and a newborn swaddle, sometime in 2013ish. The pink blanket backdrop, came with the bassinet basket that laid waiting for her arrival. The Lucy embroidered blanket, a gift to her from her Swing and Duck just a year before she arrived. Her headband, was made by her great grandmother and worn by her mommy when she was little. It was made from hosiery scraps from local textile mills during the 1980s. And now, a month after she was born, and home, and suffering for the sake of Mommy’s need for pictures 😂 It all came together. Except she wasn’t the “newborn” that you could feed and prop up and take pictures! She was on the move and not of fan of BIG BOW on her bottom! Which turned out to be her personality 24/7, and she was an absolute JOY!!! And I let go of the “staged” pictures😂 very quickly!
I’m sure you are asking, “why in the world is she sharing this?” I share because we all have a story. Our stories are made up of a collection of moments. Moments Matter.
Lately I have been thinking about all the news, the people I love, the people I don’t know but I am called to love. I am encouraged by somethings, I am disturbed by somethings, I am shattered by somethings, I am running faster and faster to Jesus about all things! I am concerned in a lot ways for the children, because of the conflicting messages that I could have never imagined being confronted with.
One thing that has my heart in a game of tug-a-war is the neglect of truly hearing each others stories. Let’s call it “The art of the front porch sitting” conversations.
When we encourage children (and do so ourselves ) to listen, hear, and learn from and about a wide range of people, they learn to discern fact vs opinion, truth vs lie. To learn about each other, make connections, “enter in” to one another’s stories, it requires time. It requires each of us to be a willing listener and to be a willing truth sharer. It takes patience. The stories we enter into, whether face to face (art of the front porch 😊 I think about all the people I met on my grandparents porch), through a book, or even a documentary, these experiences shape us. They shape our thoughts, opinions, the ways in which we approach certain things, how we carry ourselves, how we treat and view others.
I admit, I am a true story children’s book lover, on the edge of hoarder (as well as any other children’s books). I absolutely love most any documentary. I have the kid’s app “Who Was?” on my phone and play it regularly (also a great series of chapter books for kids). I love history, although my school grades would have never reflected this love. I am a firm believer in the fact that we must know our history, not dwell in it, in order make the changes and choices for today and the future. There are many crucial stories of those who came before us, they may not have a book or documentary about them, but that doesn’t mean their story doesn’t need to be heard!
So I have a few questions for you to ponder…
As a child, who had an influence in your life? What was the influence? Why do you think it made a mark on you? How did you meet them and get to know them? (Also, as an adult.)
Out of all the history that has occurred in your lifetime, what “event” or person comes to mind first? Why do you think this is the first thing that came to mind?
Children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, frankly, everyone is watching everyone. So today and the days to come, What will your story be? Will you be a listener? Will you be a truth sharer? Will you be both? What legacy mark will you make?
