A couple of weeks ago when my son Ian came home from Chicago, Rory put him to work helping redo a wall in the living room that he’d accidentally put a hole in. Or at least, I think that’s what happened. I don’t know. Anyways – it doesn’t matter…..
When I was over there in the middle of the demolition, plastic hanging from the ceiling, plaster dust everywhere, wires running through walls…… you get the picture. I said, “Do you even know what you’re doing ???” I mean – My sons were raised by a pack of women, basically – Me, my sister, & my mom. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing feminine about either of them but I only know how to change a lightbulb and not much else, so I wasn’t sure where his skills were coming from. I only knew they certainly had not come from me!
“Mr. C taught me how during the summers when I was working with him.”
I had no idea he had taught them how to do that! So, I got on the phone and called to thank Mike for the influence he’s been for two decades in my sons’ lives.
A few days later I had a conversation with my friend Pat, also a single mother who raised young men. Her son apparently had told her some things that he had learned from the men he brushed shoulders with at church. We talked about all the influences in not only our sons’ lives, but in ours – she being a major influence in my life for many years.
During the elementary and middle school years, I was the emergency Mom for all the kids in the neighborhood and often had several of them over after school. Moms helping moms! I really, really cherish those years.
Yesterday someone came over to replace the dryer vent I had rigged up over a decade ago. When he pulled out my dryer and saw how unnecessarily long it was, he claimed it was a fire hazard and that he probably saved my life. This is the same guy who fixed my broken door knob in the middle of winter that had left a big gaping hole in the door one morning after working a midnight shift.
We were’t created to live independent from one another. We were created to be in community with one another. God made all of us different and unique, and gave us our talents and skills not to keep to ourselves, but to help others.
They say it takes a village to raise kids, but I believe we need a village because we all need each other!
I got a phone call late last night leaving me with some sad news. I lost a friend to suicide just a few hours before that call, one I’ve not been in close enough touch with lately. I spent the night, and I’ve spent the majority of today reflecting on how I could have been a better friend. I’ve got a mighty good village, but I am certain that I could have been a better villager…..
Who’s in your village?? And, who are you influencing or encouraging in your village? I’ve got some changes to make, and I’ve got some friendships to go nurture. Do you?
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