Rearing Can-Do Kids
My mother used to tell me: “Can’t never could do anything.” It was not just a saying with her either. She lived it. It went like this:
“Can you hem these fifty pairs of pants for the veterans’ hospital — today?”
“Sure. I’ll do that.”
“Can you make custom tablecloths for the church fellowship hall?”
“Sure. I’ll do that.”
“Would you teach the five-year-olds on Wednesday nights?”
“Sure. I’ll do that.”
Don’t get me wrong. Mother knew her limits, but she also knew where she could push her limits. And she did.
I don’t advocate saying yes to everyone. That isn’t my point at all. Sometimes — many times — ok, maybe all the time — the best way to accomplish what really needs to be accomplished is to say no to some things so you can say yes to what is most important.
However, my mother was not afraid to try. It’s not everyone who would answer yes to, “Would you make this Elvis Presley impersonator’s outfit for me to take on tour in Europe?” That would scare the socks off many a seamstress, but to my mother it was a challenge and a joy to try and to succeed.
Fear is powerful. Many amazing things in this world have never been accomplished because someone was afraid to give it a try.
Inertia is powerful. Many amazing things in this world have never been accomplished because someone gave in to inertia.
Overanalyzing is powerful. Seems as if there are always people around who say why something can’t work or won’t work or has been tried before and didn’t work. Overanalyzing has stymied amazing possibilities.
The wise mama conquers her own fear and inertia and overanalyzing and gives her brood abundant opportunities to do likewise, ’cause she’s not rearing scaredy-cats. She’s rearing children who know that can’t never could do anything.
Proverbs explains it this way:
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
A lion is in the open square!”
As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the sluggard on his bed.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.
Proverbs 26:13-16
Happy 85th Birthday, Mama
