Front Porch Teachings- Real life. Real faith. Real lessons from everyday porch moments.
I am excited to share a new series on TheMommiesReviews.com called Front Porch Teachings is an ongoing series on The Mommies Reviews where I share true stories from my family’s everyday life. Every article begins with a personal story before transitioning into the lesson God taught me through that experience. Some days are joyful. Some days are difficult. Every day has something to teach us if we’re willing to look for God’s hand along the way.
Post 1:
As a wife, mom, business owner and friend as well as a sister there are days when I have a long list of things I hope to accomplish, and then there are days when life has completely different plans. Friday was one of those days when I made plans but the LORD had other plans for my family.
I spent two days working on my blog for a total of six hours trying to fix problems on my blog. Six hours. I clicked, searched, read, and tried everything I could think of, yet when I finally shut my computer down, the problem was still there. I was frustrated with myself because I felt like I had spent an entire day working with nothing to show for it.
Looking back now, I realize that wasn’t the whole story. In the middle of all that frustration, my mother-in-law called and asked if I could go with her to take some clothes to Dougie at the nursing home. We weren’t gone very long, but it gave me something much more valuable than a completed task. It gave me unexpected time with her.
This has been a difficult week for our family. Earlier in the week, my sister-in-law was taken off life support, and we also lost one of our neighbors. Sometimes those moments remind us that time with the people we love is a gift we should never take for granted.
When we returned home, Charlie was waiting in the parking lot because he wanted to show his grandmother his car. As a mom, I held my breath, hoping the conversation would go well. It did. I could even tell she was proud of Charlie just from the way she got out of the car and walked up to him.
Instead of criticism or sarcastic remarks, she smiled. She told Charlie how proud she was of him. She admired his car and told both boys she was happy they had good jobs. Watching that moment touched my heart more than I can put into words. My own parents aren’t here to see Charlie becoming a young man, so seeing his grandmother encourage him meant everything to me.
The rest of the day wasn’t nearly as peaceful. There were errands to run both with Charlie then David, stores to visit, a car that wasn’t running correctly, unexpected delays, hurt feelings, and moments when I found myself sitting in the car with tears in my eyes.
There were times I felt unheard and unappreciated. There were also moments when I realized experience really does matter, like when I suggested getting the air filter first before doing anything else. Sometimes moms really do know a thing or two. By the time evening arrived, David and I were exhausted.
We picked up dinner from McDonald’s, and I decided I wanted an apple pie. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a simple dessert after a long day. When we got home, I mentioned I wanted to sit on the front porch for a little while. David surprised me.
Instead of going inside, he came out and joined me. We shared that apple pie together, talked about our day, and enjoyed a quiet, unexpected date on the front porch. It reminded me that some of the sweetest moments in marriage aren’t expensive vacations or elaborate plans. Sometimes they’re simply sharing dessert with the person you’ve walked through life with for so many years.
After sleeping much of Saturday because I was mentally exhausted, David quietly made me an egg sandwich when he got him from work. It wasn’t a grand gesture, but it reminded me once again how love is often shown in the little things someone does for us.
I also reached one of my personal goals by completing my 30 minutes of walking. It wasn’t easy, but I did it, and that small victory reminded me that progress is made one step at a time.Today is Sunday, and I don’t know what this day will bring.
I’m praying for Charlie and Bradley as they continue learning their new jobs. I’m praying for wisdom, patience, and responsibility. As a mom, I know there are things I simply can’t control. I have to place them in God’s hands and trust Him to work in their lives in ways I never could.
As I sat reflecting on everything that had happened over the past couple of days, I realized something. I thought God had taught me one lesson. Instead, He taught me ten. He reminded me to plan ahead. He reminded me that kind words matter.
He reminded me that waiting is part of life. He reminded me that helping others isn’t always appreciated, but it’s still the right thing to do. He reminded me that I can’t control other people’s choices. He reminded me that respect should never be taken for granted.
He reminded me it’s okay to ask for help. He reminded me that some problems aren’t solved in a single day. He reminded me that the sweetest dates are often the unexpected ones. Most of all, He reminded me that tomorrow is another chance to begin again.
Those ten lessons became the inspiration for a brand-new series here on The Mommies Reviews called Front Porch Teachings. Every week I’ll invite you to pull up a chair beside me as we look for God’s lessons hidden in ordinary days.
Some stories will make us laugh. Some may bring a tear to our eyes. My hope is that each one reminds us that God is present in both the joyful moments and the difficult ones. If we slow down long enough to look, we’ll often discover that His greatest lessons are waiting for us right there on the front porch.
My family would like to thank you for spending a little time with us here on the front porch. Life isn’t perfect, and neither are we. But every day brings another opportunity to grow, love, forgive, laugh, and learn. My prayer is that these stories encourage you to slow down, look for God’s blessings in our own life, and remember that sometimes the greatest lessons are found in the most ordinary moments.
Until next time…
God bless,
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
