Monday, April 5, 2010

Moments from the Clothesline....


The image of clothes drying in the fresh air on the clothesline...surprising the reactions this sparks in some people. I have encountered people who are certain that line dried clothes are dirty because they have been hanging outside....people who believe that clothes on the line in your yard is a sign of poverty..people with fond memories of a grandmother's line dried clothes..the list goes on. Your opinion is yours and you are entitled to it. As for me....

Clothes on the line is a connection to my past..memories of the farm..of home...of hard times...of who I have been and who I am today. A time to remember the ones who taught me..guided me..shared the work with me then and now.

When I am at my clothesline I may be alone....prayerful, reflective, sorting out the millions of things pulling for my attention. My most heartfelt intercessions are often made at my clothesline...some of my best decisions are made at the clothesline.

I may be with one of my children....quiet..together..sharing unspoken moments..or sharing: a fear, a struggle, a good story...each other...or with all the children...sharing the load..laughter..worries.......time.

Maybe my husband and I have slipped to the clothesline together...quietly being, exchanging loving glances..a private conversation, a heartfelt concern....each other's time.

These moments at the clothesline are so much more valuable to me than...the concern over pollution in the air...the stigma of poverty...the opinions of others.

Moments at the clothesline show my family I care ..with fresh, crisp clothes, with time together, with my prayers; my husband I respect him...with money saved on the electric bill, the training of our children, with little stolen moments alone to regroup.

It shows my God that I remember the people, places and situations He has used to shape me. Now, how long has it been since you had a moment from the clothesline?

simplychele



7 comments:

Unknown said...

What good thoughts! Thanks so much for sharing an aspect that many have forgotten. I'm so glad you added your photo to my post!
Blessings!
Amy

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Your sentiments toward your clothesline...are my exact feelings too!
I LOVE the clothesline and getting a job done...the solitude of it all.

have a wonderful day!
Pat

Unknown said...

Thank you both. Clotheslines are part of my favorite memory..and a task I still enjoy today.

Homeschool on the Croft said...

What a lovely post!
I am out at our washing line every day (well, except when it's pouring!), but our clothes never hang down like that - we always have at least a breeze, so they blow in the wind...
Here on our island, on the north-west coast of Scotland, almost everyone still hangs washing outside. Most families will own a tumble drier, but it's used as back-up for rainy days only
Thanks for posting
Anne x

Jen said...

Beautiful post on Clotheslines. Hangin out your laundry is good for the soul :)

Unknown said...

Laundry on the line definitely feeds the soul!
When I lived in Kansas, our clothes blew in the breeze; I can still hear the sound they made as they popped and snapped against the wind. Here in the south, our clothes never move; faint breezes are a rare treat here.
So nice to meet all of you!

Lace up and Walk said...

Beautiful post. I feel thing same way about my clothesline:)