I was recently scrolling through social media as one does and ran across a random video. For whatever reason I started watching it. It was a gentleman I sort of recognized but I’m still not sure who he is and he was answering questions from a group of young adults.
He had trouble answering the next question, not because it was hard but because it made it him think.
He started to tear up, gathered himself and then answered.
I teared up as well and wondered what my answer would be to that same question.
The question?
“What was the best lesson your parents ever taught you” ?
It didn’t take long for the answer to pop up for me. My Dad was always sharing his thoughts and wisdom with us kids in short, repeatable phrases.
The one he said most often was “Actions speak louder than words” No one can argue with that one and I have thought of it repeatedly over my lifetime.
A good lesson but not as good as the next one that actually had more depth to it than I realized.
“Always return something in better condition than you got it in”
Smiling I remember my Dad spending at least an hour cleaning off a ladder he had borrowed. The paint and dirt was not his doing but he was such a stand up guy he could not return it dirty. True to his word that ladder went back to our neighbor looking bright and shiny.
As I smiled about that memory and thought about the impact of those two phrases a light bulb in my brain lit up and almost blinded me with the obvious connection.
It wasn’t just things my parents were talking about but people as well. They showed up (action) they left the people they called, visited, or wrote to in much better shape than when they arrived be it with a kind word, a hug, a compliment, a piece of pie or a cup of coffee.
All this time and I never made the connection although I saw it in action many times.
Without the intention of teaching us they demonstrated their values behind those two phrases with their everyday actions and words.
One time they stopped for a pizza to bring over as a treat for our kids. The pizza was made incorrectly and the pizza place wanted to trash the first pizza and make them a new one. My Dad agreed but wanted to keep the first pizza telling them that you can’t make money if you do that, mistakes happen. Make the new pizza but I’m paying for both.
My children were little at the time and the pizzas were huge so when I asked my Dad very casually why he brought two he told me the story and I just nodded…so him!
I have no idea who was behind the counter that day but I hope it left him or her with a smile and a lesson on kindness and integrity.
Several years ago I was walking towards Barnes and Noble and noticed an older man in a bright green shirt walking in the opposite direction toward the same store. He had his head down and looked sad. As I approached him I caught his eye and said ” I love your shirt. What a great color” He looked up, broke out in a smile, straightened up, thanked me and walked into the store with new energy.
His reaction was unexpected but I never forgot how those few words changed his whole demeanor.
I wonder if he remembers that day like I do? Maybe, maybe not but I ran into this post from “Enlightened Consciousness” and thought it was a good reminder.
I know this is mostly about my Dad but my Mom was there as well, always with a kind word, a handwritten note and pie..she made the best pies. Nothing like a piece of pie to soothe the soul.
On Novemebr 21st they would have celebrated 73 years together. They had 66 years together..no small feat but I know they wanted more 🙂
Mom and Dad @1951
I hope today brings you kindness, whether you give to yourself or others or someone pays it forward to you!
As always keep “triing” It is the best thing we can do!
Jennifer
P.S. All grammatical and spelling errors are my gift to you and may you have a magical day or several 🙂
And yes you too can get this right into to your inbox almost every Tuesday (a day earlier than everyone else!) Just fill out the very annoying pop up in this post! You may get a bonus post as well!
Shout out to my hubby who tolerates my very messy self ( he is not) and all of my endeavors: writing, painting, crocheting, photography, and scrapbooking. No looking in closets where I hide the evidence.
I was published in the book ” So God Made a Mother” ( you can order it here)and I also recently I have a quote in the beautiful companion journal “So God Made a Mother’s Story and I am working on a yet to be named novel.