My sister recently dealt with a crazy, tragic situation. She was right there and had to take charge and be there for everyone! Boom! 1-2-3! She went into “Big Sister Mode” and took care of EVERYTHING! When we finally got to talk about the whole thing I told her that I didn’t know if I could have done all that she did - like she did! She assured me that I could have and would have, but in my own way, and that we were raised and prepared for times like these. Our mom and dad DID prepared us well.
Times like these? That got me thinking about being prepared. I am a checklist person and I like to be prepared. On a trip, I will have a vacation checklist of clothes, food, extra things we might need - especially when the kids were young and our trips were a family of 4. Before we would leave everything was checked off! Now, when I leave to run errands, I have a list of the places I need to go so I don’t forget to stop somewhere, and believe me I have a grocery list (it’s cute - from Amazon) EVERY TIME I head to the store! I am so prepared!
So what did my sister mean by mom and dad had prepared us? A life checklist? I remember things like “Look both ways when you cross the road,” and dad would say, “Keep your car clean.” His car was always spotless! The more I thought about it, it wasn’t what they said, but more how they lived and what they did. They prepared us by the example of life they lived. If someone needed a volunteer, they volunteered. When it was their time to be the leader they stepped up, when it was their time to follow they followed. If there was a confrontation with another adult, I rarely saw either of my parents “blow their tops” and scream. They both handled things calmly and if they did get loud, it was something!
Our parents loved our friends like they were their own. They supported us in 100% of what we chose to do as long as we gave it our 100% - because that was a big deal - our work ethic! Our dad owned his own company and was a strict boss. Some people might use another word other than strict because he was tough. He had high expectations and planned for you to meet them. This work ethic was carried out at home as well. If it was our time to mow the yard- it better have gotten done when it was supposed to and it better have looked great. Our grades, well, they were to be our very best… even if it was algebra!
The example my parents showed of their faith was ALWAYS present! They didn’t scream JESUS on the corners, but it was the quiet examples they led. They were Sunday school leaders, choir trip sponsors, we prayed before dinner and we DIDN’T miss church. It was never a fight - it was just a given.
I think the toughness and the unconditional love my parents continually showed, not only to us but to each other and to other people, paved the way for how my sister and I live and react to others now. There are times when our toughness does come out, and stand back if it does, but for the most part I’d say we both love pretty BIG and care lots about people. Every now and then when I am doing something I will look up to the sky and say out loud, “ Do you see how hard I am working at this, Dad? Ugh!” knowing good and well I won’t give up on a job because I wasn’t brought up that way. Or sometimes when I find myself volunteering to help with an event or plan something, I think, “Mom would do it this way” and then I call her to make sure I am doing it like she would. I do this because I was prepared for it - without even knowing it.
Being the little sister (even at my age), there are times when I just want my big sister to step in and take charge, but I know I can handle anything that comes my way - I AM prepared! Looking forward, I only hope that I have helped prepare our kids to handle whatever life throws at them. Because as much as I want there to be, there isn’t a cute little LIFE CHECKLIST they can order off of Amazon that will tell anyone what to do - YOU just have to be prepared.
KELI’S KORNER - Are you prepared for the things life brings your way? Who or what do you feel prepared you best?