Funny how something so simple as raking leaves can seem like such a pain-in-the-rear task. After doing the "chores" (aka feeding the chicken herd), I found the rake in the pump house and thought "no time like the present."
I used to dread raking leaves. I'd look at them through the windows and think if I just left them there a while longer the wind would carry them away. That never happened and finally after it rained or snowed, I'd try to gather what I could, cursing under my breath knowing that I should have been doing this long before they were a wet mess...as I did the year before, and the year before that, and so on.
I have to say that this years raking was actually a happy experience. Happy, you ask? Well, yes. I was happy to have a break and be outside in the fresh air. I was happy to be physically able to do something as simple as rake leaves. And I was happy to rake my yard which surrounded my house which provided warmth and shelter for my family.
It's not until we go through an experience and find ourselves truly at the mercy of God and others that we learn to appreciate the joy of being able to do simple daily tasks. Being confined to bedrest for weeks on end and having to trust the survival of your babies to others reminds a person that when it comes down to it, we really don't have much say in the what happens in our lives. It's not until we are unable to do things that we realize how much we miss them, and take them for granted. I have a more positive and grateful perspective on life now. The little things like doing dishes, folding laundry, feeding the chickens and yes, raking leaves, is now part of my happy place. Sounds silly but it's true and I hope I'm able to rake leaves for many years to come!
