Tag Archives: canning
Life’s little Rewards!
20 Feb
Life’s little Rewards!
Everything that I have ever accomplished in my life was always with the help of others. Whether they physically helped me or just encouraged me to do it, when I achieved it, we all enjoyed the reward of having accomplished something. I believe that as human beings, brothers and sisters, that we have been put on earth for purpose and reason. I also believe that we all have our own journey or path to walk, but that the God of the universe who has made us and put us on planet earth intended for us to interact with one another to complete that journey. No man is an island unto himself, but we need each other along the way! This is why I am writing this story or blog! I want to encourage you! I want to encourage and pep you up, and be your cheerleader and shout, “Come on you can do it!”
I grew up in a little rural community in Kentucky. We owned a pretty good size farm and raised tobacco on our farm at well as on others. We learned firsthand as we drug our bodies out of our warms beds at 4:00 in the morning the meaning and value of hard work and sweat.
I remember looking on my Daddy’s face when Spring would come. His whole persona would change as he couldn’t wait to begin tilling the fields for our huge garden, and of course the tobacco which was our money crop. He would go outside and began walking a huge field that was seated at the end of our side yard. My Mom would have us girls, six of us altogether; open up the windows to let the fresh air and Sunshine take the winter’s stale odor out of our two-story farm-house. When we opened the windows wide, we could hear faint whistling sounds coming from that field. It would be my little Daddy whistling a tune of gladness!
As we all worked to raise the crops our reward of our labor would come at different times as the crops were harvested. I could remember picking green beans and tomatoes for my mother to can. She lined the shelves of a root cellar in an old smokehouse that sat behind the house. We dug a wagon full of potatoes and God only knows how much cabbage Mom put up for soups and Sour Kraut . When she would finish canning and the shelves were full, she had this satisfying proud look upon her face. This was one of her rewards. She knew that she was providing food for her family for the winter.
I remember my Daddy would have that same look of satisfaction on his face as my Mom’s when he sold the tobacco at the end of the year. It was usually always around Christmas time! His reward was providing for his family by selling his crops. Although it was backbreaking work, my Daddy simply loved being out there in those fields and doing what he had to do for his family.
My Dad and Mom however, wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the rewards of their labor! My parents would call all of the girls into the kitchen and dining room area that was just one big old room. We would gather around the dining table in great anticipation as my parents wore a smile upon their faces. Our faces beamed as well, as my Dad would start with the older girls who had done the most work. He handed them a crisp new 50 or 100 dollar bill, which was a lot of money back then. The amount would usually depend on how much tobacco we had raised that year and what it sold for. Then, of course, he gave the younger girls their share! We were all excited and felt like we were the richest people in the world. We had received our reward for the year’s long work!
In my own journey, there were many pathways that I could have taken. I feel that the way my journey began made a huge difference in how I chose pathways and viewed the roads I have taken. We learn by experience whether those experiences are good or bad. I have found there were milestones in my journey! Some of those milestones were good and some bad that propelled me to the next pathway. The important thing is to learn from your journey. There are many goals that I’ve set in my life that I just have not been able to accomplish. I cannot use the unrealized goals as an excuse to stop! Those goals are still a possibility for me! I’ve realized that even the mistakes that I’ve made have lessons to be learned. If I will let them teach me, they may have something in them that will help me on my next path.
Nothing is wasted! Even the bad experiences have their reward if you will glean from them. The important thing is to keep pressing toward the goal! Also to simply notice that Life’s rewards come disguised sometimes, but that they are always there. I cheer you on my friend! I hope that your Life is full of great blessings and rewards!
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Christine Gilliam Hornback
Authorartistmomof2 
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