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The Front Porch
| Whatever happened to the
sense of community remembered as a kid and young adult? Perhaps, it disappeared
when backyard decks began to replace front porches. As a child, front
porches were a gathering place for friends, family and neighbors to sit and
read the evening paper, converse with those passing by or to share dreams
and plans about the future. The night air buzzed with activity as neighbor
kids rode bikes up and down sidewalks and streets. Kick-the-can and hide-and-seek
were played long after dark or until the last echo of "It's time to come
home now" was bellowed from a distant front porch. The muffled conversations
of grown-ups occasionally drifted overhead, lingering momentarily before
overtaken by the sounds of child's play. Life seemed to move at a slower
pace on the front porch and neighbors were your friends rather than
strangers. |
Driving in
rush hour traffic today, I found myself missing the comforts of my front
porch. I became acutely aware of the sound of our squeaky porch swing
swaying in the cool evening breeze. Of neighbor kids calling out the count
down for hide-and-seek and the rustling of my dad's evening paper as he turned
the pages. For a brief moment, I felt a twinge of sadness in knowing that
my best childhood memories were buried somewhere beneath my old front porch.
Unfortunately, my time of mourning was suddenly stopped short as an irritated
driver gestured his resentment for my apparent slowing speed.
Life is full of changes, but I can't say that the retirement of the front
porch has benefited the community or the family. We no longer know our neighbors,
nor do we desire to know them. With the invention of answering machines,
caller I.D., E-mail, computers, television and backyard decks we no longer
feel the need to communicate intimately with member of our community or own
family. With all our advancements, I sometimes have to wonder what we are
progressing toward. Life is about people and our ability to relate to them
on a daily basis. Call me an 'ole fuddy-duddy' but, somewhere buried
beneath the front porches of America is a gold mine of intimacy waiting to
be rediscovered.
For what it's worth, I still like to hear the sound of my neighbors' car
horn as they drive past my house when I'm working outside. I still welcome
a friend, family member or neighbor stopping by unexpectedly. And, I will
forever cherish the memories of those times when neighbors were a part of
my evening ritual. In fact, many of my closet friends today have evolved
from front porch gatherings.
I invite you to never lose the front porch fellowship that is so vital
to the stability of every family. Front porches may be a thing of the past,
but the need to nurture and maintain close family relationships is not. I
believe it to be the most valuable inheritance that we can offer to our children.
Sit down for a family meal at the dinner table (with the TV off), do a craft
or home project together, initiate an evening devotion, play board games...find
a way to personify the true meaning of front porch relationships to
the next generation. In doing so, your children will reap the harvest of
establishing family and community relationships in a world that has little
or no regard for intimacy.
In the days ahead, commit yourself to renew a front porch
relationship with your family! |
© 1997 Denise Marks
All Right Reserved |
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ABOUT THE
AUTHOR...
Denise Marks is the writer and publishers of several
children's songs. For many years, she entertained children in the schools
and libraries
with her creative action songs. While employed at a hospital in her area,
the administration used her talents at several conferences to be
their motivational speaker. Denise now is the owner
of a fulltime website business that sells soap molds and creative soaps.
She has been blessed with numerous creative talents and always gives God
the praise for His many blessings.
Visit Denise' website at:
www.planetearth.com/ |
"What God has joined together (the family),
let no man (TV, e-mail, computer, telephone...) put asunder." |
More...
Paul Harvey Writes |
