There is something special about a porch in October.
The summer heat begins to loosen its grip. The air feels cooler, the leaves start changing colors, and suddenly that old porch chair becomes the best seat in the house.
Miss Ruby noticed it one afternoon as she stepped outside with her sweater pulled close around her shoulders. She settled into her favorite chair with a warm cup of tea and listened to the leaves rustling across the yard.
The sound carried her back to the porch of her childhood home.
Back then, porches were more than decorations. They were gathering places. Neighbors stopped by without calling first. Children played in the yard while the adults talked. Beans were snapped, peas were shelled, stories were shared, and plenty of neighborhood news traveled from one porch to another.
As Miss Ruby sat remembering, her neighbor waved from across the street.
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” she called.
Miss Ruby smiled. “It surely is. Come sit a while.”
A few minutes later, there were two chairs rocking instead of one.
That is the beauty of a porch. It gives us a place to slow down, look around, and make room for someone else. We may not all have the same kind of porch we remember, but we can still create spaces where people feel welcomed.
Sometimes connection begins with something as simple as, “Come sit a while.”
This October, take a moment to enjoy the changing season. Open the door. Call an old friend. Sit outside for a few minutes. Notice the colors, feel the breeze, and thank God for the beauty that can still be found in an ordinary day.
A Moment to Reflect
What do you remember most about sitting on the porch?
Who would you love to invite to “come sit a while” with you today?
Scripture: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24
