Day 30: Smiles are my Favourite Keepsakes

This largely unedited free-write is linking up with the Write 31 Days Challenge. // indicates the start and stop of five minutes. The prompt word for today is CUT. Go!

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// The day started early with the hour-long drive.

Erwin and our eldest daughter had already returned back to Jeffreys Bay for work and school. The other three children and I had remained behind to finish the last of the packing and sorting, and of course to help Grandma and Grandpa at the lake.

Before long, the cabin was a whir of activity. Mowers, chainsaws, axes, brooms, and rakes. It was that time again, time to clean up the yard and prepare it for winter.

Little bodies were all too eager to help. Grandpa was brilliant at instructing, empowering, and encouraging. Never before had my kids chopped down a tree. This was an exciting new adventure. An empowering new adventure.

“Just wait until my friends hear about THIS!”

What began as a tedious task had quickly become a delight. They were exploring and learning and having the BEST time being destructive.

The memories from that day are still etched in my mind. Sweaty little bodies pushing and pulling. Weary muscles fighting with the lawn mower. Tired arms sweeping cobwebs off the siding. Dirty and dusty bodies cutting long branches into manageable parts. All mixed together with the noise of the chainsaw and shouts of victory every time another big limb fell. //

What had felt so daunting in the morning had become conquerable by mid-afternoon. Grandma served lunch and energy reserves were replenished. (It’s amazing how good Kraft Dinner can taste after hours of manual labour.)

What began as a typical work day quickly became a treasured memory when I chose to see it through the eyes of my children. They had never cut down a tree before. It was new and exciting, scary and difficult, but it was also sooo exhilarating!

What had been a random Scripture yesterday had become incredibly real and practical today. Matthew 7:19, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down.”