“PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH!”
Forgive? Yep… Forget? No way Jose… Some mistakes were built to last. “Hey! Make sure you guys keep the doors closed!” I yelled out a warning to the absent-minded minors. I barked out that order in frustration more than once in my life. Living in Arizona the warning is usually voiced over the weather and keeping the hot air out that spins the electric meter like a tornado, but not always…
“Are you trying to air condition the desert?” was one of the sarcastic questions posed to us; the absent-minded adolescents of the arid arena. Funny how money means little to the people who don’t have to earn it… “Boy, if you leave that door open one more time I”m gonna make you sleep outside!” Sure dads can be more effective sometimes than moms, but even that warning didn’t stick, couldn’t… not until enough magical time passed for the brain to begin to actually work, or work more often I should say…
I like a good family tradition as much as the next guy, so our girls heard it from me too. Hot Arizona summers or perfect Arizona winters didn’t matter, they’d hear it from me regardless, “Keep the doors closed!” Like me as a kid, they struggled. Hard to grasp some things as a kid, but I gave the typical “hot weather” speeches along with some of the classic sarcastic questions. When the weather got like the Garden of Eden I’d give them the “cool weather” speech… probably a few sarcastic questions thrown in there for good measure and tradition.
We lived in North Scottsdale at the time, smack in the heart of the most pristine Sonoran desert in the world, “I told you! Don’t leave the doors open! we’ll end up with snakes! You want a rattlesnake in the house?” Parents… Sheesh… I know, of course, that no one wants poisonous snakes sneaking into where they cherish safety, but sarcastic questions have a long heritage… and frankly are just too irresistible to pass up…
It was a pristine lazy Sunday when I was going between the house and the casita, (like a small mother in law suite), and inadvertently left the door open to air the place out. The following Wednesday about four o’clock I heard Ali’s blood-curdling scream… it sounded even worse than the time when she was in around first or second grade and cut herself with her mom’s razor the she was forbidden to touch…
She was pure white and shaking, “A snake!” She yelled when I got to her in the courtyard just in front of the casita door. Like the good and traditional parent, my first instinct was to not believe her… Parents… Sheesh…
I suspect that it’s beyond coincidence that the mistakes that are made to last are usually the ones we make when we’re being self-centered or hypocritical with the rules we say we live our lives by… Isn’t that the biggest turn off for the secular world from the modern church? It’s hard to respect, much less hang out with a hypocrite.
The rattlesnake in our casita was the last straw for my wife and eventually led us back to the concrete jungle… As many times as my wife has told that story and laughed about how I didn’t “practice what you preach”, you’d think she’d be tired of telling it by now… Not by a long shot…
Sunday, October 27, 2013 @ 12:07 pm
Yeah you would think. Jo loves telling people I sweat eating ketchup. Go figure. I can eat salsa. I have even learned to eat some buffalo wraps but i sweat eating ketchup on fries. She never stops telling that story. Oh, what I put up!
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 11:35 am
It actually does sound good for a laugh! If and when we get to break bread I’ll be the first one to “pass the ketchup!”
Sunday, October 27, 2013 @ 12:08 pm
Oh i forgot; my parent’s favorite: “Close the door. Were you born in a barn or something?” I wasn’t quite bold enough to say, “You oughta know. I wasn’t aware of too much at the time,” but I knew that meant the woodshed. 🙂
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 11:37 am
Oh yeah, I forgot about that one! I don’t blame you, it would have been the bedroom for me! But that meant a visit with the thin black leather belt! That kept my smart mouth shut! Thanks, Bill. Good laugh!
Sunday, October 27, 2013 @ 7:13 pm
“. . . the absent minded adolescents of the arid arena.” Oh, my. You, sir, have just thrown some delicious, verbal rice crispies into your prose. Snap, crackle and pop. The part about the wife saying I told ya so . . . sigh. Great post!
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 11:38 am
You are a prose junky, my friend! A good one at that… It might be our fault for giving our wives so much ammo to use against us! Thanks, Keith.
Sunday, October 27, 2013 @ 9:37 pm
The one time you made the mistake of leaving the door open this happened:)What a valuable lesson to know and remember. At times I think we all could hear or relearn this lesson. I do my best about “practicing what I preach” but often fall short, as my wife can attests. Several times in my marriage my wife has said things like: Don’t you write about leadership or having a positive attitude?:) She kindly but firmly reminds me to be practicing what I write/preach. Great thoughts!
Sunday, October 27, 2013 @ 10:09 pm
Were you raised in a barn was my dad’s favorite saying, when we failed to close the door. This post made me smile, about your wife not letting this slide. Not many people like snakes, and certainly not close to our house. (or kids, or animals.)
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 11:42 am
I forgot about that one! I’d heard that one too, even used it myself a time or two! Yep, my wife still tells that story whenever the subject comes close enough. My job is/was to instruct and protect… I blew that one. God bailed me out… Thanks, Hazel.
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 11:40 am
As painful as it is to be reminded of our shortcomings, I think it is a needed reminder… and it helps for us to be able to laugh at ourselves too. I have plenty to laugh about! Thanks, Dan. We’re all in the same boat I’d say!
Sunday, October 27, 2013 @ 10:43 pm
It really does take a few years of growing and paying for things out of our paycheck for those old adages to make sense. We never had air con growing up but we did have flies, good reason to close the screen door. I love it when my grown children say the same things I said to them to their children. Funny but pointed post.
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 11:43 am
I’m with you, Betty. It brings a smile to my face to when they start quoting us! Our Father has a sense of humor! Thanks, Betty!
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 4:53 am
Dear Floyd
Your post today reminds me of a book I once read of Philip Yancey. I cannot remember the book’s name, but I will never forget the story of the desolate prostitute. When asked why she didn’t go to church she answered with a question. She couldn’t for her life understand why she should go to church when they make her feel so much worse about her life when she already felt so bad by her way of living already.
Blessings XX
Mia
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 11:45 am
Oooo. Powerful indictment of our modern church, huh, Mia? We need to speak with our actions that add up to our words and use the same mercy as what we’ve been given. Thanks for sharing that. Good call.
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 6:16 am
We just moved this weekend. We have screen doors which will help for leaving the door open in the right seasons.
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 11:46 am
As long as you put some self closures on them!
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 9:37 am
I’ve stayed in Arizona overnight twice. Once during a move to Oregon from the east coast, then on our move back three years later. As we went through parts of the dessert I marveled at it’s beauty, like the gorgeous photo you’ve chosen for your post. But, the one thing that I kept thinking was that there had to be lots of snakes out there! And you just proved that for me! Actually I think your post is an awesome metaphor for just how quickly the devil or serpent can enter when we carelessly leave a door opened for him. Blessings Dear Floyd!
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 11:49 am
Good analogy, Betty Jo! You hit the nail on the head! It really is just that subtle and before I knew it he was inside ready to inflict immense pain… and maybe even death to our little one who was little at the time. Wow. That brings even more wisdom and learning from the experience. Thanks for adding that wisdom, sister. I’m shaking my head, don’t know how I missed that? But then real wisdom has a way of making us feel like that. Thanks again, Betty Jo…
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 10:45 am
To be cliche myself, I’m so much stronger because these desert critters haven’t killed me. It’s very true, I can handle a multitude of situations much better after my encounters with these stinging, biting creatures straight from you know where! I’ve also started to see, God’s protection by revealing them to me while I still have time to get something to defend myself. Would I choose to learn this way? Heck no. But I’m grateful for the lessons and leaning on God for my every need. Thanks for the great writing brother.
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 11:51 am
The voice of one with wisdom gained the old fashioned way. I recognize that voice, it is the one given to us by our Father. Well said and taught, Audra. You summarized that lesson well for those of us who live in the desert, especially in your neck of the Scottsdale woods! Thanks, Audra.
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 11:23 am
Lol! It only takes the disciplinarian to slip up once and he/she will never live it down. Just for your information, I would rather tackle a grizzly bear or a cougar than a rattlesnake. *shivers*
Smiles.
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 11:54 am
Like I said, some mistakes were built to last! We men are glad to be of service! We have a knack for eating our shoes… I guess I’ve dealt with snakes enough living here to know that I don’t want to tangle with any of them! But if I have to, I’ll take the one that I can outrun!!! Thanks, sister.
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 1:11 pm
I can see how your wife would enjoy telling that story!
My toddler is the in the “why” stage. Almost everything I say to him is met with “why”.
Good question, sometimes I don’t have an answer. Can’t believe I find myself saying “because I said so.”
Parents…sheesh.
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 4:36 pm
Oh man! You just made me laugh hard! Exactly my point! And it’s out of your mouth before you ever even had time to think! Yeah, it’s a funny story now, but that was a stressful day back then! Too funny! Thanks, TC! Too good!!!
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 @ 11:46 am
Glad I could provide some comic relief. You and I tend to get too serious at times. Praying a blessed week for you and your family.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 @ 5:59 pm
It’s like knowing yourself, isn’t it? Kinda scary… Thanks, TC. I’m praying for you and yours as well. Thanks so much.
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 1:18 pm
I thought your daughter was just pulling your leg there for a moment..hoping you’d sweat a little and remind you of the words not kept 🙂
Good lesson here. I can just hear my dad yelling to keep the gates closed (had many of them in our farm and compound)to keep the animals in their enclosures and compounds. oh the day he’d forget to lock them! 🙂
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 4:38 pm
Us dads are funny… We tend to teach the rules thinking that we’re somehow almost immune to the laws of this fallen world. We tend to believe we’re indestructible… Wisdom takes a little time to catch up with us… Great share. I know your dad responded in humility and gained a tad more wisdom that day! Thanks, Ngina.
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 1:52 pm
We never really had a problem about leaving the door open when we lived in an apartment. There when open the door, you’re still inside.
As a preacher my own preaching often scares me. I begin thinking, “Am I really ready to live the way I am telling others to live?” I’d like to think so, however, I know that at times I will fall short. I think after all is said and done it comes down to humility. The fact that I don’t always practice what I preach is a great reason to be humble, it’s also a reminder that whenever I preach I’m not just preaching to the person in the pew but first of all I’m preaching to myself!
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 4:41 pm
Very well said, wise man! Most of what we say and write, if done in humility, is to remind ourselves of our shortcomings and weaknesses. Foolishness fights… Humility listens… Excellent point, Caleb. Thanks!
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 5:56 pm
Thanks Floyd for sharing this with us here at “Tell Me a Story.”
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 @ 5:46 pm
My honor and privilege. Thanks for having me, Hazel.
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 7:24 pm
Ha, I’ve said all those same things to my kids, except usually I’m referring to the refrigerator when it comes to letting cold air out as we don’t have air conditioning. That’s one of the nice things about Montana – it almost always cools off at night in the summer except for a couple of weeks in July when we sleep on the deck or lie around with our tongues hanging out, dying of the heat. But at least we don’t need to worry about snakes!
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 @ 5:47 pm
Gotta take the good with the bad I guess! It’s amazing how the adages get passed around and down over the decades… Thanks, Barb. It’s nice to have company!
Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 9:42 pm
There’s nothing more deflating than when they turn your words back on you – and never let you forget it – even if it’s just one time! BTW – I’ve learned the hard way that when the boys said things like, fire, snake, or big poofy owl getting the in the van – they usually are telling the truth – that’s when the word chargin became a meaningful word to me:)
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 @ 5:54 pm
Too funny! I guess we’ve all had to eat our words at least once… I started carrying salt and pepper for the occasions! Thanks for sharing… I can only imagine all the stories you could tell with all those boys! Thanks, sister.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 @ 12:54 am
My kids leaned the lessons about snakes early, as we had a woodpile that attracted copperheads like ham sandwiches attract hobos. They learned a few other things as well – where I kept the machete, and why I was constantly saying don’t go near the woodpile.
So far as eating my words go? I find them best baked (usually they are only half-baked) at 350 for 45 minutes, served crisp out of the oven – helps to mask the taste of crow. How do I know the recipe for crow? Glad you asked… 🙂
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 @ 5:55 pm
You are too hilarious, Rick!!! Didn’t think I’d get the chance to laugh today! Glad you showed up and described my diet of habit! Thanks, Rick! Good one!
Friday, November 1, 2013 @ 10:02 am
The other night I let my daughter have it for being so forgetful. My kids were in tears at my tyrannical outpouring (it wasn’t the best parenting moment). Later, when I had to make amends and ask for forgiveness I confessed to being just as forgetful most days. (Where are the car keys again?) Some things we just never outgrow and I forget that we are all a work in progress…it is all grace we are in desperate need of for ourselves and for others. Thanks Floyd! Have a good weekend!
Friday, November 1, 2013 @ 6:31 pm
Amen, sister. We’re all in desperate need of our Father’s grace. Good job, mom. A great weekend to you as well. Thanks, Rachael.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013 @ 4:36 pm
I’m pretty decent with tolerating all sorts of insects, bats, lizards, and what have you. But I absolutely hate snakes. I think anything that let snakes into our house would be something I would have to freak out about too!
Tuesday, November 5, 2013 @ 5:06 pm
I’m with you, Loren, but my wife wouldn’t let me kill him in the house. She said she’d burn the house down if I did! So I had to get close and hold the couch up for the snake catcher… who by the way had a five gallon bucket to put the rattler in… I just didn’t know it was over half full of other snakes until he took the lid off! That’s a visual I can’t shake from my noodle! Thanks, Loren.
Thursday, November 7, 2013 @ 6:09 pm
Human weakness – we’re stuck with it until we are redeemed, bodily. My own shortcomings remind me that I need to be merciful to other people’s weaknesses – even when I think thy are being careless.
Friday, November 8, 2013 @ 10:30 am
Yeah, that’s my lesson too. God has a way of having the words I eat remind me of His grace… Thanks, Nancy.