Mom You Have A Reputation

Mom, You’ve Got a Reputation

The phone rang one recent weekend.  As I answered it, I heard my daughter-in-love laughing as our seven year old granddaughter spoke into the mouthpiece, “I love you, Grammy.”  As Nicole took back the phone, she said, “She wants to make sure that you know that before I tell you what she just said.”

Our son and his family were on their way home from dinner when he asked Amelia, the seven year old, a question to which she answered, “Yeah.”  Immediately, my son took her to task, explaining that she was not to answer adults with “yeah,” but, instead, with “Yes sir, No, sir, Yes, ma’am, No ma’am.”  In response, Amelia said, “But, Daddy, I bet when you were a kid, you said ‘yeah’ to Grammy and Pawpaw.”

Our son contradicted her, explaining to her that, in our home, we expected a response of respect and courtesy.  She asked what happened if he or Uncle Scott said yeah to us.  Our son assured her that, after the first warning, they got a spanking.

Upon hearing that we spanked for disrespect, Amelia said slowly, “Wow.  That’s really weird.  They seem so nice.”

The very same day, our older son Scott called and asked if I knew a certain name of someone with whom we had attended church some twenty years ago.  I assured him that I did and asked why.  He and his business partner had met with a man to submit a bid for some work that he needed done.  Our son introduced himself and, upon hearing his last name, the man asked if he was any kin to Gerry Sisk.  My son replied that I was his mother.  The gentleman went on to say that his wife had attended some of the Bible studies I had taught at our previous church.  He then went on to say, “So, Gerry Sisk was your mother?  Hmmm.  I bet you had a really strict upbringing.”  Our son responded in agreement, failing to note that neither he nor his brother had particularly always abided by that strict upbringing, to which the man teasingly replied, “I’m so sorry.”

That particular day, I had been teaching from Proverbs 31:11-12, where God says that the hearts of those she loves can rest safely in the hands of a virtuous woman and that she will do good to them all the days of her life.  As my sons and I laughed that day about the reputation that their dad and I have of being strict and tough with them ever made them doubt our love for them.  Each of them, now dads themselves, quickly assured me that they always knew we loved them unconditionally.  They always knew they were safe in our hands, and still do.  They walk into our home, knowing we will keep an eye on the children, that mom will fix their favorite meal, and dad will help them change the oil in the car.  They know that we will do the best we can for them all the days of our lives.

Recently, I heard a young pastor speak about the power of last words.  He asked what we would like to leave as our final words.  He asked what others would say about us when we are gone.  Well, I suppose a part of our sons’ words might include spankings and a strict upbringing.  However, I pray that the overarching banner of our lives is the love story of Christ in us and through us.  Everyday of our lives should be lived cognizant of all that our lives say to others.  As always, God says it best in II Corinthians 3:3, Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you.  (The Message)

What letter are you writing today with your life?  Are you writing a love letter of trust, good, love, and consistency?

© 2010 Gerry Sisk

(10/20/10)