Tracks in Snow and in Life

“The footprints you leave behind will influence others. There is no person who at some time, somewhere, somehow, does not lead another.” ~Unknown

One of the things I enjoy about walking in snow is seeing track trails. I live on a farm and that means I can see fields untouched by human feet, vehicles or livestock. Cows are confined to one field which leaves the others open to wildlife and my dog buddies, Frankie and Marley, and me. So, I’m always on the lookout for tracks of those unseen critters that live on my farm but stay out of sight most of the time.

Deer tracks that would have been rare when I was a kid are now common in snow or mud. You can always find deer tracks. Rabbit tracks are everywhere too as they hop around in the snow hunting out something to eat. Then there are other little tracks that I can only wonder about. Sometimes a neighbor’s cat will be on the hunt for mice. Squirrels might spend a few minutes on the ground instead of running through treetops, making daredevil leaps between branches. Raccoons can go walking in the snow, but I have an easier time recognizing their tracks in mud. Maybe they hole up in their trees until the snow melts away.

This morning I saw tracks that look like Frankie’s only smaller than his feet. Marley, while shorter than Frankie, has big paws. These tracks might be a coyote’s since they are probably too big for a fox. Or who knows? Maybe it was a bobcat. Truth is, I don’t know for sure what it was except that sometime in the night or early morning it left tracks through the snow. And I came along later and left my tracks across its trail

That’s how life is. Whether we can see the tracks we leave or that others do, we do continually track up other people’s worlds. So that makes me think of the song, “Happy Tracks” written by Kenny Price, a country singer from Florence, Kentucky. He was a big guy at 6’6″ and 300 pounds according to what I found on the internet and was called the “Round Mound of Sound.” He embraced his size and wrote comedy songs such as “The Heavyweight.” He was a regular on Hee Haw as the bass singer in the Hee Haw Gospel Quartet. A few of his songs hit the charts including “Happy Tracks” back in 1966.

The chorus of that song stuck in my head and these years later I still think about it whenever I see my tracks in the snow. I like the lines about leaving happy tracks wherever you go along life’s road. It’s a cheerful song that embraces being an encourager for those who might come along behind you on the same paths.

But it’s not just footprints that leave tracks. So can our words, especially in this internet age where we can so easily share messages. We post about this or that. We share pictures and more. I share many, many words here and on other social media sites and in my books. While I’ve messed up in the past by saying wrong things without thinking before I spoke, I do try to think before I post. Mistakes still happen but I do want to use my words wisely and with care the way the following quote says. That’s also a way of leaving happy tracks.

Words are like the wind. They will blow away your own footsteps but they also will blow away the footsteps and thoughts of others. Use them wisely and with care. ~Brent M. Jones

Those tracks in the snow will melt away or new snow will blow in over them like these fading away from yesterday. But the tracks of one’s words can stick around. Even if they aren’t written, but just heard by someone, they can stay in that person’s head for good or for bad. Sometimes we need to do a housecleaning in our heads and sweep out those worrisome words we have been clinging to and just embrace the good words and thoughts.

Do you ever think about the tracks you’re leaving behind you?

All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 25:10 ESV