SWEET TEA AND JESUS SHOES
By Smith, Ball, Knight, Chastain, Dixon and Ellis
Bellebooks
May 2000
ISBN # 0-9673035-0-8
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"Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes"
is a compilation of stories from some of the American
south's very talented writers. Each
chapter is a personal experience of the author,
many with a moral at the end, and all with a life lesson.
"Sweet Tea" is Debra Dixon's accounting
of the man she let get away. Her southern culture is woven
between handmade quilts, family and traditional sweet tea.
And when her fiancé brings his mother to visit for
the first time it's evident where the cultural lines are drawn,
and the classes, as his mother sets about to insult everything
about southern people.
"Jesus Shoes" is told by Sandra
Chastain. It's the story of a young girl going to bible school
and the friends she makes while there. One particular summer
of bible school Sandra finds herself at bible school with
a brand new pair of white sandals and shows the off proudly
until a couple of ragamuffins turn up. Showing her Christian
side, Sandra makes the first introduction but instead of having
her hand shaken one of the boys steps all over her sandals
with his dirty tar covered feet thus spoiling her new shoes.
She sets about to make their life a living hell but when the
teacher has the class make their own Jesus shoes she realizes
that we're all equal.
"Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes" is an
emotionally touching book filled with great tradition, humorous
stories and even a section with wonderful old family recipes.
You don't have to be a southern woman to understand families,
and you don't have to like hush puppies to enjoy southern
cooking. But this book will not only fill your heart with
family tradition but also your soul with a culture only a
few lucky people have the chance to live. A must read for
all ages.
