The Pea Patch

I was lucky to be able to live a few years on a farm.
Well at the time I did not think I was lucky!
It was a small 16 acres, half of it was a veggie garden.
My favorite was the half acre of melons! Nothing like busting open a ripe watermelon on a hot day. For some unknown reason, my mom's Uncle planted an acre of blackeye peas. 
I was told I could pick all the peas I wanted! 
Now blackeye peas don't get ripe at the same time. They get ripe All the Time! In the mornings I would pick peas, after school I would pick peas. I think there were a couple of nights I woke up picking peas!
I hated blackeye peas. 
The plow mule would wonder down to the pea patch and watch me. I think he was laughing at me. I bet he was thinking "Now you know how I feel!"
Taking care of a pea patch has to be one of the hardest jobs in the world. My back hurts just thinking about those days.
I did learn a lot in that pea patch. I learned that it would take about 4 hours to pick a bushel of peas, and that 5 bushels would sell for about 20 dollars. I learned if you did not pick the peas they would die on the vines, not serving a purpose.
I think everyone should live on a farm, as my mom's Uncle would say "You need to earn your keep." Which now I know means " If you do nothing, nothing will happen. Everyone has and needs a purpose."
As much as I hated that blackeye pea patch, I have to say they were the best tasting peas I ever had!  
Parents plant some peas, or melons, some tomatoes. Watch your kids beam with pride as they grow and harvest them. Then as you sit around the dinner table enjoying what they grew, look at how proud they are!  
Teach them that everything and everyone has a purpose in life, and if they do nothing, nothing will happen.
A Texan's Hope
Paul