Recently I reflected on my experience as I went mushroom picking with my husband and his cousin. The post on 9.10.2023 was called, “Options- I thought I knew what was best” You can read it at the link below.
Options, I Thought I Knew What Was Best
My pants, shoes and socks were an icky, sticky mess. I was ready to throw everything out because of the mess the seeds made on and in the fibers of my clothes. I really didn’t want to throw them away, I loved them, but felt as if I wasn’t left with much of any choice. I thought they were ruined.
Instead of taking the easy route and tossing them out (well, my heart really wouldn’t really let me throw them out that easily anyway), I wanted to give it my best effort. If I didn’t at first succeed, I would try and try again, ensuring I tried my hardest and did my best.
As I was thinking about what to do, or where I needed to start, my mom messaged me (after I had sent a picture), saying to put them in the washing machine. Well, I didn’t feel comfortable putting them in there right away. I didn’t want everything that was on my pants to get inside the washing machine. Instead, I found an empty pink tub (my favorite color). I placed my socks and shoes (which weren’t as bad, then placed my pants inside too. The bathroom was close by, so I figured that was the easiest way to add water to the tub. I filled it with Dawn soap and hot water.
From time to time, I took the pants out, made attempt to scrub the securely attached seeds from the pant legs. The wooden boards for the front porch railing came in handy as my wash boards. Something resonated inside me, thinking about the old days, the times when my grandmother scrubbed clothes on the old wash board. Granted this was more like a 2×4 that I was trying to rub the seeds off from, but still, I couldn’t help but think what life must have been like at a time before washing machines were used.
A few of my nieces and nephews either stopped to watch or walked on by and observed. They noticed the progress I was making, how the seeds attached became less than what I started with. I felt a bit of encouragement, like my efforts were all worthwhile. Cleaning up this mess would take time. My pants needed more time to soak, and for the hot soapy water to do its thing. Even though I may have been trying to rush the process, eager to get rid of the mess on my pants it had made, I needed to learn to slow myself down, have patience and wait.
Everything remained in the tub until morning. Of course, the water was cold by then, but still, it had time to soak in soapy water overnight. I took my pants out and proceeded to scrape them across the board some more getting some more of the seeds off.
Later that morning I went over to spend time with my mom at her house, taking all this along. What she said before heading over, I couldn’t help but laugh! Her message to me said,
“I was thinking, if you want, bring your weed infested pants over and I’d take a look and see if I could do anything with them.”
Have at it, I thought to myself. I know she is not one to waste, so I was willing to try whatever ideas she had, either work on cleaning the pants off together, or give me the tools and I will have at it.
My mom started by telling me how she “Googled” to see what ideas she could find. I don’t know why but it makes me giggle when she says she “Googled” to see what she could come up with. I guess maybe it’s because, I was raised in a home where we had dictionaries and Britannica Encyclopedias. That’s where we found our information growing up, no technology or browsing the internet back then. Whoa, what a different world we live in now, right?
The first idea she came across was to use a comb. The comb was supposed to help loosen the seeds from the fibers as I started at the top and worked my way down. This task became rather tricky as I was wearing leggings, very stretchy, nylon/spandex kind. The seeds were well secured within the fibers where they were attached.
We each took one pant leg and started working our way down each one. I was moving more quickly with the comb than she was, covering more area in less time. I know it wasn’t about speed, or how much I could get done in a short amount of time, but I really didn’t want to spend a long time cleaning my pants. When my mom noticed how much more quickly, I was working my way through, she commented. I told her I didn’t want her overworking herself with all the repetitive motions, so it was okay for her to stop, and I would keep working on it.
I kept working the comb through, trying different angles and motions. It didn’t seem as if it was working as good as I hoped. In the meantime, my mom went inside and looked for more tools to try cleaning the pants with. When she returned, she brought for me a hard, plastic pan scraper and a very old butter knife. I first tried the scraper, trying to dig down deeper and release the seeds. All ends were used, the flat sides and the sides with the jagged edges (that looked kind of like teeth).
The scraper was used for a short while, still wasn’t quite what I needed at that time. At last, the old butter knife (which I must say had a nostalgic look and feeling), would be used for something one might not have ever imagined it being used for. If it does the trick, don’t knock it, yeah?
After more than an hour of scraping, using a variety of tools, I dipped my pants in a bucket of water to wash away all the seeds that were released. At this point, my pants were looking almost like brand new. Not many remnants left that would indicate my pants were infested from seeds on the mushroom picking outing.
The moment of truth was upon us! I gathered my pants, socks, and shoes, then put them in the washing machine. In doing so, I hoped for the best. I had tried my hardest and done my best, using my own strength and power. I hoped for the best, that God had provided us with the knowledge and wisdom needed to salvage the unsalvageable.
Not knowing what the outcome would be, and that I had done all that I could do, I let the washing machine do what it does then I would come back and check on it when the cycle was done. The speed cycle doesn’t take very long. Only a little over a half hour and it’s done. I had plenty of other things to occupy and pass the time while I waited with much anticipation of a desired outcome.
From the washing machine and now into the dryer. I was amazed by how weed and seed free my clothes looked! Into the dryer everything went. I was getting more excited, more hopeful as time went on. I do my part, washing machine and dryer to theirs and God does His.
What a mess I was! Well, my clothes were anyway (okay, I was kind of a mess inside too with this dilemma). I had gotten myself into this and I was going to find a way out. Besides, I was feeling a bit selfish in my ways, wanting to get out of the house, have a change of scenery, a mental break, and a soul refresh. I kept thinking back to the choices I had made. Had I known the conditions, the best type of clothing to wear, I would have been much better prepared and would have avoided the mess I had gotten myself into. Believe me, I had different plans, expectations of what our mushroom hunting trip would be like. I thought I would be wandering around, enjoying being in the presence of the trees, in nature, fresh air, sunshine, taking pictures of the scenery. Instead, my focus was taken away from things I enjoy most by my seed infested pants, the itching and irritation that came from that rubbing against my skin.
I’ve had some time to sit and reflect on this experience. An epiphany may have washed over me. My searching, my longing, my year for Jesus, seeking Him throughout my days. I was out in nature. He was there too. The enemy, the devil, saw I was doing something good. The seeds were like that of the enemy’s attacks, placing a stronghold on me. Causing me discomfort, wanting me to succumb, give up, get angry and frustrated. The devil did what he does best. I didn’t give up or give in. I wanted to walk around looking for mushrooms longer, but I was becoming uncomfortable, rashes multiplied on my legs with every weed seed that attached itself to me.
My mushroom hunting trip was cut short. I thought I could handle being out looking another 15 minutes with them but was given the keys to the truck and told to go back and get out of that clothing which was causing me so much discomfort. This meant I had to navigate myself back to where we parked. Directions aren’t my strong suit, so I felt a bit discomfort with that too. At that point, I had no other option then to start walking. I am still working on having more self-confidence these days.
Upon removing my seed infested clothing, I got some initial relief, yet my skin had many rashes on it and was quite itchy too. I’m glad I listened to his advice. In that moment he knew better than I. I’m used to pushing through and enduring many things, regardless of the struggle I will make it through. This time was different. Why put myself through more unnecessary discomfort, pain and frustration felt in such a short amount of time. Enough was enough. Why continue to suffer?
Throughout every circumstance in life, I do believe there is something good, a silver lining, a lesson to be learned and valuable insight. This experience was no exception.
There was humor, a lighter side to all this which helped me turn my mindset around, not get focused and fixated on the negative. I know how easily I tend to allow my mind to go in that direction.
When my husband and his cousin returned to the truck, I sat bare bottom with my hoodie for a cover up. We drove along, asked if we wanted to go eat somewhere, get a drink, stop somewhere along the way. No, I’m good. We can keep driving back home or you guys can go in wherever and I will sit in the backseat of the truck and wait. I guess no wasn’t taken for an answer. We pulled into the parking lot of the Dairy Queen (DQ). My husband’s cousin said he had some rain pants I could wear so I could go inside with them and eat.
He went around the bed of the truck and took out a pair of bib style rain pants. Nice and bright yellow in color. Everyone for sure would see me coming, I would stand out! Ugghhh! There was a light-heartedness, a joking manner in the air. I felt so embarrassed by having to wear these, especially on a hot and sunny day. How weird was that? What would people think? (Why would that matter anyway, but my self-confidence was a bit low). I had old ways of thinking, circling in my brain. Far too often throughout my childhood I had been teased, picked on, singled out, just not a positive early childhood and teenage experience in school. Kids and people can be cruel. I don’t know why I’ve allowed this in to be the backdrop voice in my head. Still, years gone by, and these thoughts still cross my mind.
The rain pants were plenty baggy. They needed to be snapped in the back to get them snugged up. This was all fine and dandy once I was standing up, but as soon as I sat, I popped the snaps apart again.
I readied myself as much as I could. My husband considered this a Kodak Moment and proceeded to take a picture of me and share with the family-LoL! I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but I started to lighten up and loosen up about the whole situation. Once I saw myself in the picture I thought, well, I guess you’re right. I do look good in these. Not as bad as I thought. I started to own and become one with my new look. I had accepted the way I was in the moment. What other people thought no longer mattered. This was temporary and I would never see those people again. I wasn’t from around there, so nobody knew me anyway.
Somehow, I became comfortable I my own skin (well, in the bright yellow rain pant bibs anyway). I appreciated the encouragement, laughter, support and uplifting words and positive mindset. This was a fresh new perspective for me. I needed to look and think outside the box, take a moment, and see life through a new lens. Yes, I prefer the happier, lighter side of life rather than the doom and gloom negativity. It’s easier to live a happier life seeing the good in all circumstances rather than grumbling about what went wrong.
So, back to my epiphany (well, I think I have one anyway). Whew! Sometimes I can get so sidetracked in my thought process and storytelling, many squirrel moments for sure!
Essentially, I went for a walk outside in nature, to be one with God, become more like and walk with Jesus, a fellowship. The devil didn’t like how excited and happy my heart was, knowing I was out there to do good, learn something new, explore, have a fun adventure, take in and appreciate the beauty and take photographs too.
The weeds and seeds were the workings of the enemy sent to destroy and discourage the good works God was trying to instill in me that day. The attacks kept coming. I wasn’t prepared for what lay before me. I hadn’t put on His armor, His protection. I didn’t realize how much I would need it that day. The attacks kept coming on stronger with every step I took. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like had I stayed out there with them longer rather than listening to and taking seriously his advice to go back to the truck.
I found relief when removing my weed infested clothing. This reminded me of the feeling I get when I give all my burdens, my troubles, my worries, my mess up to God. The discomfort I felt was only temporary. I knew that’s what it was and would be. I had to keep reminding myself of that.
The time came to remove my clothes from the dryer. With great joy, I took each one out, and delighted to see everything was wearable once again! Just to be sure, and make sure I wasn’t imagining things, I tried my pants on to see if there was any discomforting, scratchy feeling on the inside. I didn’t feel anything, but there were a few scratchy ones on the outside. Not bad, all things considered. Almost like new. Most certainly salvageable.
God most certainly knows there will be times we get ourselves into sticky, messy and uncomfortable situations. He is waiting patient for us to acknowledge and seek Him throughout all our days.
Magnificent Meraki 