Things My Momma Taught Me (and Grandma Reinforced)

With Mother's Day coming up on Sunday, I pause to reflect on the two most influential women in my life and the lessons they taught me.

Mom taught me the power of prayer. Grandma reinforced this by telling me "you'd better pray that  comes out of the carpet".

Mom taught me that patience is a virtue. Grandma reinforced this by by telling me "you just wait until your parents get here".

Mom taught me to respect my elders. Grandma reinforced this by telling me "use that tone again with me young man and see where it gets you".

Mom taught me to always be grateful for what we have. Grandma reinforced this by reminding us that there were starving kids in Africa that would love to have our peas and carrots. (She didn't appreciate the gesture when we told her we would gladly donate ours to those poor children though.)

Mom taught me to always think ahead. Grandma reinforced this by reminding me to put on clean underwear before I left just in case I was in an accident.

Mom taught me to keep my hands to myself. Grandma reinforced this by telling me "try to lick that icing again and you're going to draw back a nub".

Mom taught me that what goes around comes around. Grandma reinforced this by telling me "someday, you're going to pay for your raising". Note: I still don't get this saying. So, I'm going to be paid back for how you raised me???. What?!?

Seriously. I told my mother recently that I wouldn't trade my raising for anything in the world. I had two parents that did their best to teach me right from wrong, to work hard and expect nothing from anybody. I also had two grandparents who helped reinforce everything my parents were trying to teach me.

I can't thank my mother or my grandmother (who left this world a couple of years back) enough for the love they showed or the lessons they taught me. I'm even thankful for all the whoopin's I got. On her death bed, my grandma told me "you know, I only spanked you because I loved you". There's no doubt in my mind that it did truly hurt her (and my mother) more than it did me anytime they had to discipline me. But, I'm thankful they decided to forgo the easy route and make sure I understood that bad decisions equal bad consequences.

I hope all of the moms out there have a wonderful Mothers Day!