I grew up in rural America, complete with brick streets, a single stoplight, and a 30 mile drive to the nearest WalMart. When I was a teenager, I would take walks to clear my head from all the stress of being 15. My town was only a mile wide by a mile long, so from where I lived, it was only a few short blocks to the dirt roads of the countryside.
There, I could walk and think, often followed by a couple of stray black chows that had managed to elude the local dog catcher. I would always come back refreshed and peaceful, better equipped to face whatever it was that was troubling me.
Once, while vacationing in the mountains, our oldest daughter was all out of sorts, so we sent her on a walk with a little point and shoot digital camera. We watched her from the window of the cabin as she walked the mountain paths, here and there bending down to take photos of wildflowers, rocks, ground squirrels, and logs. It was just her and God’s green earth. When she came back, she was calm, and she’d found a new passion.
When our family visits the Farmhouse, my boys love to walk the surrounding acreage. They beg to be outside, breathing the fresh air, exploring nature, and kicking up the dust of the country roads. There is nothing out there but wide, open spaces dotted by cattle, cottonwoods, and Amish buggies. They never ask for toys when we are there. They don’t need distractions or entertainment. The out-of-doors has given them all they need.
Yesterday, I felt bogged down. A lot of things were weighing heavy on my mind. Mommy things. Information to be sifted, choices to be made, one thought leading to another to another…no end in sight.
So, I walked.
My 9 year old son asked to join me, and we walked the mile loop around our wooded neighborhood. We talked of locust and sycamore trees, of his aspirations to be a painter and own a ranch, complete with a red pickup truck.
And I paid attention to life.
I paid attention to him.
I did what I should have been doing all along…just BEING Mommy.
Sometimes all it takes to ratchet the stress level down a notch (or two…or six…) is to take a step outside. When I was a teenager, I walked those country roads to be by myself. When my daughter walked those mountain paths camera in hand, she was learning more about herself. My boys on the farm are simply being themselves. And yesterday, as I walked hand in hand with my son through our neighborhood streets, I was finding myself – not in some new-agey, feel-good sense of the word, but in the fact that as I walked, I let go of certain expectations and stressors. I walked away from the things that don’t matter, and walked side-by-side with the things that do.
Sometimes all you need is a walk to see where you really need to be.
Take a walk today and ask God to head you back in the right direction. Let go of all the extra stuff, and be thankful for where you are right this very minute.
Suanna says
Thanks for the insight. I have often “just wanted to take a walk”. With having so many littles and no biggs to keep an eye on them I’ve often just stepped out on the front porch while they are eating lunch or into the backyard while they are playing. God’s creation is special and it certainly helps me to get back on track during an out of sorts day.
Kirsten Pankratz says
This is good, as always, Amy, thanks! We live on 156 acres so there is plenty of space to walk which is something I like to do myself, but I never thought of sending the kids on a walk. My oldest is 8 and she and the next youngest, 7-a boy, feed animals in the field and then take the 4-wheeler around on the trails going the long way home. If I trust them on the 4-wheeler on the trails, I should trust them walking the trails…hmm, what a good idea when they need to clear their heads and get a better perspective.
Tyra says
Wonderful post! Thank you, Amy!
Josi says
So true, and walking is always free! What’s too common nowadays are the many people on their phones while they walk, never being alone with their thoughts. Often when I see people walking along the road, alone and without distraction, I pray that they would meet the Lord along their way.
Kersten says
Lovely comment and idea. Thank you.
Bonnie says
Thank you for this! I just told my kids we are going on a walk this evening when the sun is down a little more so that its not so hot and then I opened my email and saw this. 🙂 I just had a baby a month ago and I have 3 other children 8 and under and we definitely need a walk! So I am going to try very hard to make this happen even though evenings are a busy time for us since the baby needs me but I still have other responsibilities that need me too like cooking dinner and giving showers etc. 🙂 I’m sure you understand what I’m talking about.