Voices in My Head

                I grew up in a conservative, Christian, southern, strict, loving home.  There were times that one or the other parent would say something that I thought was just ridiculous.  I mean, they were old.  Right?  I remember thinking many times, “I’ll never say that to my child.”  Admit it.  We’ve all said that.  

 

                And then it happens.

                My son got his driver’s license this past year.  I remember telling him very soon after that banner day, “If you get a ticket, you’ll have to pay for it.”  Oh wait a minute!  Where’s my dad?  I just know that was his voice saying that!  But it was just the two of us.

                I remember once in my young adult life I shared with my mom some big bill I had to pay.  I had the money to pay it, but I was aggravated that I couldn’t spend that money on something a little more glamorous than a bill.  My mom said, “Well, at least you have the money to pay.”  Several years later, my husband and I had set some money aside only to have to spend it on an unexpected expense.  I heard a voice in the room say, “Well, at least you have the money to pay.”    Yes, I was channeling my mother this time.  I told her about it later.  Her response?  “Hey, you actually do listen to what I say.”  Yes, Mom, I do. 

                I think some of the most blessed conversations I had with my parents (and still have) are about God.  Being raised in the church gave a lot of openings to God being a part of the conversation.  It is that strong faith that they helped nurture that allows me to talk with my own children about God.  Those are the voices that I love to hear guiding me as I talk with my sons about what a great God we serve.

                I have to admit, though, that the best stories are when their voices came back to haunt them.  One of the things my dad said when something was broken or spilled was, “If you were watching what you were doing, that wouldn’t have happened.”  When my older brother brought home his soon-to-be fiancé to meet the family, my mom cooked a dinner any southerner would be proud to eat.  As we were getting things on the table, my dad began pouring tea.  Unfortunately, he spilled a glass.  I quickly said, “If you were watching what you were doing, that wouldn’t have happened.”  Both of my brothers’ jaws dropped and my dad just gave me “that look” and then continued cleaning.  When I went to tell him goodnight that evening, I said, “I’m sorry.”  He just grinned and said, “No you’re not.”  I admitted I’d been waiting a LONG time to be able to tell him that, and I figured I might not get in trouble with company.

                Another time my mom was telling me about some medical bill that they had to pay.  It was pretty large.  Since they are both retired, I was afraid she was telling me this because it was a financial burden.  So I asked if they had the money to pay it.  “Oh yeah, we have it.  I just didn’t want to spend it on that.”  I just calmly smiled and said, “Well, at least you have the money to pay.” 

                Yes, mom.  I really do listen.