Saturday April 8 2017  WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WAY

“Rode hard and put away wet”; when I said that today in the presence of a High School Junior she looked a bit perplexed.  I asked her if she had ever heard that idiom before.  She answered that she had not. I gave a short history lesson about a rider and his horse.  Horses, “way back when” were often the only means of transportation available to a man.  Just as we take care of our cars in today’s society, so the rider’s first concern, when he finished riding, was to take into consideration the condition of his horse.  If the horse had been ridden fast and long the horse would work up a sweat.  A caring and conscientious rider would always take care of his animal’s needs even before his own.  The saddle came off and the animal then needed to be walked a spell to cool down.  The horse then needed to be wiped and rubbed down and perhaps walked a few more minutes.  Only then would the rider feed, water, and bed the animal in its stall or paddock.  The rider was then free to take care of his own needs.

If the above considerations were overlooked there were often dire consequences for the horse; sometimes the horse would cripple or die.  So, when a person is tired and looks weary and worn-out, the above idiom was also used to describe the way that person looked and felt.  Not a good condition to be in. 

Well, that is how I felt after today’s event came to a close.

Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin called us this past week and offered to provide a volunteer group of students to come and help Dave and I prepare our yard for spring.  That was a timely offer we could not refuse.  We were expecting seven people.  They showed up with a carload of young women!  Their time was limited but believe me it wasn’t wasted.  What a crew.  And then another carload came about 10 minutes later with 5 strapping high school lads and one male adult.  All total we had 13 workers.  They were here approximately 2 hours and Dave and I were task masters; Dave behind the scenes doing, Kathleen up front and personal.

We had lists written down of all we hoped to accomplish.  Double the crew was a bonus for us!  Our time was less than anticipated but with the extra hands it was well worth the two hours they were here.  Sticks were picked up, grass area of both front and back yards were raked, the pine needles down the driveway were raked, piles and piles of debris was bagged, branches piled by the street-edge for pickup next week, patio and terrace furniture was unpacked from the shop and set in place, the patio table was assembled and is now in place, the front and back door screens were installed after the storm door glass panels were removed, huge sheets of plastic were folded in neat squares for summer storage, and some pruning was also accomplished. 

Dave felt better today and contributed too much of his energy to the endeavor.  Nothing I could say or do would make him sit down.  If others are working, then he is working too.  I did my fair share of raking and giving instructions to those students that seemed at a loss as what to do.  Believe me that was a task in itself, and was a full time job.  But in all fairness, every one of the students that showed up worked hard.  We were their third destination for today.  Come to think of it, they looked as if “they had been rode hard and put away wet”!

Even so, it was a pleasure to be outdoors with so many young people.  They were fun-loving, had great attitudes, and actually knew how to converse with adults.  There was a lot of music, some singing, and just acting silly.  But over all, they took this volunteer day seriously and they made a big difference in our life!  I asked them how they enjoyed being an answer to prayer.  They seemed to like the idea that that they were the answer to someone else’s prayers.  I like that idea too!

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WAY

Kathleen Martens

April 8, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

Thank You God

For the young.

Full of life

As well as song.

A heart of giving

On a special day.

Much work accomplished

In an attitude of play.

No surly glances

When asked to work.

Whatever the task

They did not shirk.

So overwhelmed

With such awesome “kids”!

Their willingness to help

Put on my skids!’

I thank each one

From my heart.

What a beautiful way

For spring to start

Thank You God for the phone call that came from Abundant Life Christian School.

Thank You for all the wonderful young men and women that surrounded us today.

Thank You God for loving each student.

Thank You God for being such a good, good, Father; even when we are old.

And thank You God for the best weather we’ve had so far this season.

Have a great day!

GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU!