Sharpin'n the hoe, hoe'n corn and restin. [Christian talk]

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The old man was settin in a chair at the end of his rows of sweetcorn sharpenin his hoe. It was about a hundred degrees in the shade and there was no shade there! Takin the old file and draggin it across the blade of the hoe -"put'n an edge on'r" as he would say. Those weeds needed a sharp hoe to uproot'm. Those rows were about 100 ft long and at the other end of the garden was another chair. When he had hoe'd his way to that end-he'd set back down and pull out that file from his "pliers pocket" on the right leg of the Bibs he wore. Draw another few licks, take his old straw hat off and wipe the sweat with a big red handkerchief and head back across the garden --hoe'n.

After several of these trips in the heat of the day and he would be purty well tired. He'd set back down, drop the bibs down to his waist, unbutton his old blue chamborie shirt and wring the sweat from it----lay his hat on the ground and rest a spell. While restin a spell, if ya'll just happened to be there--he'd start think'n back to his younger days. A house full of kids, very little money to work with, worn out farm equipment, stubborn team of mules, drought [or floods], low crop prices and a multitude of other problems beyond his control. Still he didn't ever give up. Talked about a place he was gonna go when his life here was over. At times he would break out in a song of praise to Jesus Christ. He never doubted where his eternal home was gonna be. I'd mentioned to'm about load'n up him and his wife---take'm back to the old farm in Stoddard County, Missouri where he lived as a little boy. He always declined. Finally I asked'm why he never wanted to go. "Oh, it's easier just to stay home". When he wanted to go back years before he couldn't get away.

He never got to go back to his old homeplace. Too much time and grief had come and delayed many things he'd planned.

"How cold it is out this mornin, he would be asked. "Crimpy"! I didn't understand what "crimpy" meant until many years later. It meant and does mean -COLD!

The days of this old man are gone but he sure hasn't been forgotten. His old hoe is still around, still sharp and almost worn down to nothin after all those years of shapen'n with that file. The rake handle that was installed about 40 years ago is still intact but kinda weathercracked. The old straw hat, bibs, blue chamboris shirt are all gone now. Even the chairs he set on are gone. Of course, he is gone too. Called home by the Master almost 20 years ago. I sure do miss him and at times when I think about those long ago days it brings tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. I know where he is and Who He is with. I will join that Heavenly family sometime soon

Jesus is just waiting for the Father to say --"Son, go get my people"! I'm ready Lord! Are you folks ready to meet the Father? He is awaiting your prayer of repentance. Oh, the old man mentioned above was my daddy.

old hoot. Matt.24:44

-- "old " hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), October 22, 2001

Answers

Hoot, you are beautiful and blessed.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), October 22, 2001.

What a father he must have been to have a son like you.

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), October 23, 2001.

My grandparents are all with the Lord, except for one grandma who is nearly 90. But I remember them with tears sometimes; Grandpa C's flower beds I helped plant, Grandma C's huge, crunchy oatmeal cookies and apple pies, and Grandpa R's love for the old steam trains he used to work on. I also remember Grandma & Grandpa C taking me to their church and listening to Grandpa's deep bass singing hymns. He was always humming about his work.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 23, 2001.

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