Christian Living

Front Porch Swings and Life

by Antje Hill
09/11/16
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A while back, Ashley, our youngest grandchild, came for a visit with her dad.  Pops had made her a beautiful swing for our oak tree.  He painted the seat a bright purple, hung it up and then waited to see what kind of impact his gift would have on this “swinging” granddaughter.  She has been introduced to lots of things in her short life span, but swinging tops her list of fun ways to spend her time.  As I pushed her in her “Pops” original, giggles and screams of delight erupted. Had I enjoyed my children this much?  If not, I have been given another chance.

The word “swing” has a prominent place in my growing up memories, leaving me with the firm impression that every child needs one.  My memories start with my grandmother, who lived close by.  In the late afternoon, after the evening meal, she would walk up our little country hill to sit on our front porch and tell her stories of times passed.  Her oversized body made a soft cushion to lean against, as the day slowed down and young eyes grew heavy. It seemed my parents and grandparents solved the world’s problems as I snuggled close.  I felt loved, I felt safe, and I loved the slight squeaking sound as we moved slowly back and forth.

Time changes everything and so it was with our swing.  Evenings with Grandma changed after a few years and the swing became the perfect place to wind down from a Friday night date.  Any desire for a stolen kiss vanished when Mom or Dad flicked the porch light on, then off.  We knew it was 10:00 and time to call it an evening, no more swing time. 

Time passed and my siblings and I grew up.  We had families and purchased our own homes, none of which have a front porch for a swing. Dads, moms, children and grandparents became too busy to think about swings and things.

Now we have 100 plus television channels, computer games and social media beckoning us into our own little world.  I have no argument against progress and I would fight for my sweet electronics. But when a child picks swinging over computer games, going to the zoo or a trip to the toy store, I think she is trying to tell all who will listen there is something special about  simple things that take no thought and very little effort.

Simplicity is a good thing. Though our world may try to tell us otherwise, we know it does not have the formula for contentment and the good life. That comes with the simplicity of family, friends, knowing God loves us and memories that build through the years.

God gave us the beautiful gift of relationships. Someday we won’t look back and wish we could have had more “stuff”.  We will look back and cherish the people in our lives and wish we’d spent more time with those we love.  We may wonder if we could have been a bigger influence for good in their lives. Once I read the words, “If you have a pulse, you have a purpose!”   That quote is a reminder to me that God places opportunities in our lives every day. But He is a good God, making no demands on us.  We get to choose our actions. We can spend our time tending our stuff and mending our stuff and let it steal the hours in our days, or we can tend and mend relationships and merely use all our good stuff that truly is a blessing from our Heavenly Father. 

I’m glad for the chances I get to push Ashley in her own personal tree swing. By now I know those times don’t last long. My window of opportunity to make a difference in her life is short. She will move on to guy friends, marriage and a home of her own someday, just as I did.  But for the time being, she giggles and screams, “Higher, Nana, Higher!”  Those moments surely have God’s stamp of approval for He tells us in His word, “A merry heart does good like a medicine.” (Proverbs 17:22 NKJV)