He said: “My job is to assure your hands are well fitted to the handle of shovel and broom”.
He said: “It'd be nice if we could like each other, but if not, my job is still to raise you right.”
He said: “Just exactly at what point did that seem like a good idea to you?”
He gave us chores each morning, and every night he checked that they'd been done correctly.
He gave us discipline in corners, noses on dots; scrubbing pots, and the sting of his belt.
He gave us rules, and rules, and rules, and rules.
He insisted that we earn our money from outside jobs, not chores of family life.
He insisted that we pay for our own haircuts; buy our own bikes, camp gear, guns and tools.
He insisted that we stand up for what was right, and fess up when what we did was wrong.
He built our skills with practice and critique; and practice and review; and practice.
He built our bodies with physical labor; digging holes, sifting rock, painting walls.
He built our experience with backpacking, and hunting, and camping, and traveling.
He taught us how to glaze windows, do plumbing, wire houses, fix bikes, and rebuild cars.
He taught us the stars in the sky, birds in the fields, plants of the land, and the fish in the sea.
He taught us how to handle snakes, to feed owls, to care for rabbits, and to raise pigeons.
He formed our minds with daily discussions, with monthly challenges, and yearly appraisals.
He formed our souls on nightly prayers, weekly church, and constant righteous living.
He formed our hearts with supportive structure, generous wisdom, and abiding love.
Copyright © 2011 - Marty Vandermolen - All Rights Reserved
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