Year’s ago Blind Pig reader Kenneth Roper shared the story of his mother telling him and his brothers that March 4th was the command day of the year.
I did some research and discovered March 4th is the only day of the year that can be considered a sentence—March forth. I also discovered there were other folks like Kenneth’s mother who thought of the day as a command day.
A few folks use March 4th as a day to begin a new project or goal while others use it as a nudge to finish a project that has been hanging over them for way too long.
For several years I shared a blog post on March 4th detailing what our family would be doing as we marched forth.
Here’s my list from 2021.
- The Deer Hunter will march forth to work where he will begin the installation of a new metal building.
- Chatter will march forth to work for most of the day and then give a guitar lesson to a nice young lady in Hayesville.
- Chitter will march forth to her workbench in the basement to work on her latest jewelry design.
- I will march forth to work on various things for the Folk School including filming an upcoming Morningsong.
And here’s my list from 2022.
- The girls will march forth to pick up groceries for me.
- Upon returning with the groceries, Chatter will march forth to run wedding errands.
- Chitter will march forth to work in her shop.
- The Deer Hunter and I will march forth to the gardens where we will clean off beds and add a layer of compost.
I failed to make a March forth list for 2023 and 2024, but I wish I had.
This year’s March forth list:
- The Deer Hunter will march forth to turn the big garden over, bring in a load of wood, and continue to work on preparing for the shed he is building.
- I will march forth to work on videos: filming and editing, and complete blog related tasks.
- Chitter will march forth to work at her bench while Ira naps as well as take photos of finished work in preparation for selling it.
- And we will all march forth to care for two sweet babies.
I’m a list maker so the idea of a march forth list appeals to me. I also like to think about Kenneth’s mother teaching her boys about March 4th being the command day of the year. I miss Kenneth and I know many of you do too.
Tipper
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We had that storm coming through Texas this morning about 6am. Lost power for about 1.5 hours. Lost several small limbs on the pecan tree, but other than that all is good. The wind is still howling here though. I’ve never heard of March forth either, but I like it. Have heard of ‘May the 4th be with you’ though . I love hearing Granny singing with Paul. She reminds me of my mother in a lot of ways – including her singing! I miss Kenneth’s comments also…Tipper I made your apple loaf cake a couple of weeks ago. It was delicious, even though I had to make it gluten free. I use to love to bake sweets, but not much tastes as good without the gluten. On the bright side of that dilemma, I’ve lost about 40 pounds going gluten free. I don’t comment very often, so please forgive my rambling about different subjects.
An addendum to my previous comment…words of wisdom relating to marching forth…Time is the only currency we spend without ever knowing our balance. Use it wisely.
One of my brother’s birthday is March 4, so every year he reminds us it is a Command Day. Within my living brothers and sisters birthdays, one sister is February 14 (Our Valentine), one brother is Christmas Day (Our special gift), and our Command brother for March 4. My mother’s birthday was November 24 which often was Thanksgiving. The rest of the family simply get our day.
Randy, I never get tired of your comments about the loss of your precious wife & daughter. I know the sorrow is with you every single day as it is with the loss of my son. We need to be here for each other & lift each other up in prayer to make it another day. I believe we are all family here at BP & The Acorn & can share our feelings freely. You are a special & appreciated commenter. God Bless you & may he hold your right hand to comfort you. A friend from Mississippi
I appreciate your comment. I agree and think of the members as family, if you can’t talk or tell things to your family, who can you talk to? I realize you can overdo it too.
What a fun and meaningful way to see the day!
I will march forth this afternoon getting math work done with my two oldest children. And then I’ll march forth cutting the hog fat that’s been in our freezer way too long so I can render it to lard. But the younger kids and the baby seem to have ideas that I’ll march forth to have an afternoon nap with them.
Not a bad idea! ☺️
I loved reading everyone’s march forth ideas this March fourth!
I got up and marched to my shop to build a door. I needed to replace the access door to the crawl space under the house. I bought the wood about three weeks ago but other “Honey Do” things took priority. We bought an almost 70 year old house that is sort of like Randy and me. It needs lots of maintenance.
It would probably be smarter to give up on me and start over! Your comment reminds me, I need to work on my under the house access door. I need to do it before a possum or skunk reminds me on one of these nights.
I have never heard this before, but it makes sense, and I love it!
Tipper – I have never heard of March 4th in those terms: ‘Marth forth!’ but I like it. 🙂 Thanks for sharing that new thought. As it is a wet day here all my marching will be indoor tasks, one being marching to the laundry room, and my hands ‘marching’ as they knead some homemade bread.
I agree with Norman Chester and his comments above on marching for JESUS! The days grow short, so now is the time to get our houses in order, our lamps filled and wicks trimmed.
‘Wishing everyone a great day of marching onward.’
now don’t get me wrong, i’m amazed how you produce so many high quality videos again and again, but i want you to know that, on the days you don’t post one, they are sorely missed! i rely on them every morning to connect with humans! 😉
p.s. made butternut squash pies yesterday using your pumpkin pie recipe from october. it was a smaller squash so i just threw it all into your recipe, cut the sugar to 2/3 cup, used graham cracker crusts, and it made two pies! and they are deeeelicious!
Elithea, yum that sounds good! So very glad you enjoy our videos! We appreciate you!!
I like this idea as I am a list maker as well. Seems like a great time to get things in order since Spring is almost here. Thanks for the nudge in the right direction Tipper!!
Tipper,
This is such a great way to get things going in my life. So starting today I will March forth with getting things finished and new things started on my list.
I will start and new closest clean out
I will finish the pending closet clean out I started at the end of 2024
I will strive to wake up every day and see it as a blessing that I have been given another day. I have been in a battle against Cancer for this last year and this will be my most difficult task I believe.
I will strive to build a better relationships in all areas of my life.
Thank you so much for sharing with us all, you and your family are inspirations in many areas!
Beth, sorry you’ve had that battle. I will pray for your health!! Thank you 🙂
closets. this is so me.
I had never heard that before !
I Love it !
Never heard that March 4th statement but it’s a good one:) I’ve got to March 4th and continue sewing up little boys shorts for Christmas child, and finish sewing a walker bag for sewing servants, put together another one, crochet two little doll hats with pom poms to go with the three little baby doll blankets finished. Take a break and go get the car washed and mail two cards. Praying for Granny to have a wonderful week! God bless ya all!
I heard about March Forth many, many years ago & forgot all about it. Thanks for the reminder! Today I am going to March forth & plant some herb seeds in little starter pots. I may try to plant my pineapple tops that I’ve been letting dry. I have 4 of those to plant (the beginning of my pineapple plantation in Texas). I’ve tried planting them before but haven’t had much luck. I love trying new things.
Prayers for Granny as she gets ready for her 85th birthday on Wednesday!!!
Love this idea!
What a great idea. I will march forth to Lowes to pick up some panels for my cucumbers and tomatoes!
* I will march forth making a fresh apple cake for a friend!
* Making phone calls that I have procrastinated about!
* Fill out and return a form for fall bus trip!
* Deliver apple cake!
* Spend late afternoon playing with g-grandson Rook!
I will March Forth to start spring cleaning on this beautiful day. Shampooing furniture.
The verse of the day in my inbox this morning was Joshua 1:9, where it tells us to not be afraid for the Lord is always with us wherever we go. After reading your post I think it rather appropriate for Command Day, wherever we shall march forth. Today and everyday.
march forth for Jesus, time is running out, it’s about time for the Great tribulation, the rapture of the church, you don’t want to be left behind, to suffer the Great tribulation that is about to take place, accept Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and savior, believe in him, repent, turn from the world , turn to Jesus, confess your sin, ask for forgiveness, you will be saved, no one is turned away,
Amen!
I like the idea of MARCH FORTH and get busy! I read your list and it sounds exciting. My plan is just to make it through this day. Let’s face it-some days are tougher than others and the struggle is real yall!!! Have a good day all!
This is such an interesting post. I have never heard of March Forth. I love making lists, so this goes right up my alley. I make grocery lists, housecleaning lists, projects lists, lists for special dinner meals like Easter dinner coming up soon, gift lists for birthdays and Christmas and more. I love making the lists and checking the items off as I complete the task. Of course, I don’t always complete everything I plan…but I enjoy making my lists and trying!
Good morning Tipper and family. I am marching forth to sit in my chair and watch your videos about Appalachia! Thanks for sharing this tradition.
Hey Margaret, I call your plans for the forth being ENGERY EFFICIENT. Some of today’s young whippersnappers would call it lazy. For the last two evenings, I have been listening to a family (Mennonite?) on you tube playing true blue grass music and singing the old time gospel hymns I have heard and tried singing all of my life. I cannot think of their name but think it may have been Beardnard Family. To me saying they are good, is an understatement, I especially liked the lady playing the dobro, she is very good. Listen to them signing and her playing on the old hymn “Just A Closer Walk With Thee.”
The correct name of the family is the Brandenberger Family. I think another member mentioned them awhile back.
I reread my comment, I am speaking of my wife when I wrote lifetime companion and partner. From the time we begin going together as teenagers (16&17) and until she died, she was my life. This year would be 51 years plus about two and a half years of going together before we married.
I’ve never heard that either about March 4. I should probably make a list too.
March fourth has never had any special meaning for me. Before the BP&A, I had never heard anything about it being a command day. Nowadays because of both my mental and physical health, it feels good to just accomplish some of the most simple things during the day. I know members get tired of me writing this, but without my companion and lifetime partner I am alive but no longer living. It is all I can do to be able to walk through a grocery store and get back to my car and then get the groceries brought in the house. I know they have these carts to ride, but how do you reach items on the top shelf or back of shelf when in one of these carts? I find myself ordering more and more things from Walmart, Amazon, Lowe’s and Home Depot and having it shipped to me. Most items I order have free shipping. I do not order my groceries. It hurts to not be able to do many of the things I could once do, I was always a do it yourselfer. This just adds to my feeling of depression. I did not get to know or read Ken ‘s comments very long, but always enjoyed them. I know he was a machinist and owned a machine shop, my father in law was also an old time machinist in a shop where all of the machines had to be manually set up and operated, non of today’s computerized machines. Somehow I felt a connection with him.
Yesterday morning it was 25 degrees here at my home out in the sticks, this morning 33 degrees but daytime temps around 60, what happen to last week’s 70 degree weather? Bad or severe thunderstorms predicted for early Wednesday morning.
Randy, I don’t believe any of us ever get tired of you writing about your beloved wife and how much she is missed. I imagine lots of hearts hurt for you, just as mine does. I’m sorry that things are such a struggle and I’m thankful that you express your grief and pain instead of keeping it all inside. I’m holding you in the Light.
Melanie, I appreciate your and the other’s concern for me. What I was trying to get across was between my grief over loosing not only my wife but also my daughter along with most of mine and my wife’s family members and being ate up with inherited arthritis (especially my legs and knees) and bad discs in my back, I am now very limited in the things I have been able to do all of my life. These things all add up to my being being depressed and sadness. I often drag a knee high bar stool around with me when trying to do things. I have worked manual labor jobs all of my life from the time I was a child and still try to do whatever I can now as long as I can sit while doing them. My son teased me about sitting on my stool and digging post holes with the old style of wood handle post hole diggers. I teased him and told him if he would stoop down low enough, I would kick his hind end! Him and my grandsons are a big help to me.
I’d never heard of “command day” before I started reading this site, but my daddy had as saying he used a lot that went like: “if we make it past February the 15th, we’ve got it whipped”. I suppose he meant the weather would break, we could work, gardens would grow, etc.
Weather here has been about the same. We’ve also got the storms coming. We are under a high wind warning with winds forecast with gusts of 78 mph for tonight!