Spit in your Hand

And Grab a Fresh Hold

Friday, April 2, 2021

My father did not want to raise lazy children. I guess he feared that his two youngest were become slothful, so one fateful day he told my younger sister and I that we were going to have our very own watermelon patch that summer. We were to plant, hoe, harvest, and sell those melons. Oh joy. Every morning except Sundays - so thankful that my dad was a "Sunday-keeper"- my sister (7th grader) and I (9th grader) hiked out to the field at the crack of dawn and toiled. We were allowed to come inside from 10-2, the hottest part of the day. Then we trudged back outside and began again. Occasionally, we had some help. Our one sister's boyfriend, now husband, felt sorry for us and came out to help us. Hoeing was not his area of expertise, but he was very entertaining. Most of the time, it was just my sister and I hoeing.

It wasn't long before we developed blisters on our hands. Eventually, the blisters turned into calluses. Our hands grew weary of holding onto the hoes. When I complained to my dad about the situation, he told me what his mother told him that sometimes you have to "Spit in your hand and take a fresh holt." You see, the spit helped our grip to not slip and we could go a little farther.

If you are wondering why this website is called "Spit in Your Hand and Grab a Fresh Hold", I will reveal my reasoning behind the title. When my sister and I were working in the field, it seemed like the end of the row was miles away. Occasionally, we would take a quick break. We would get a drink of water or sit down a rest for a few minutes. Then we would get back to work. Perhaps, you, my dear friend, have been hoeing in your patch for a long time, and you see no end in sight. Perhaps you need to take a quick break, then spit in your hand and begin again. This website was birthed with much travail, but with that travail, a dream to provide a place to help you spit in your hand and grab a fresh hold even if just for a few minutes.

Blessing,

Ellen

Email: Ellen@spitinyourhand.com

And

nd Grab a Fresh Hold