That summer I wanted to attend a wrestling camp, but it was expensive. My dad told me I could go if I earned the money to pay for it. I'm guessing he didn't think I would pursue this any further, but he didn't know that I had developed a plan. I went across the street and made a deal with the principal. I would cut her yard all Summer if she would pay for my wrestling camp. She said yes and that was that!
Fast forward three years and I had built my mowing business into around twenty yards. My dad would drop me off on a block to mow a couple yards and he'd go to his Summer job, painting houses. Later he would come back to get me and drop me off at my next mowing location. Oh yeah, we didn't have a riding mower either. I cut all these yards with a push mower, used a weed eater to trim and edge, then a broom to sweep the sidewalks. We didn't have blowers back in those days.
By the time I graduated high school I had close to forty yards to mow and usually a couple of buddies that worked for me as well. I would workout in the morning, go mow, then paint with my dad, eat, sleep, and repeat. This allowed me to earn enough money to buy three trucks, pay for gas and insurance on these trucks, and also buy my school clothes, etc. Not to mention the fact that I learned great work ethic sweating away out there in that Northeastern Oklahoma sun and humidity all Summer. If that doesn't build a little grit into a person, then I'm not sure what does build it.
During all those years of hard work, lessons learned, and money earned, there was a side benefit that I never truly realized until I was an adult. That benefit is this... time with elders who built into my life with caring and wisdom.
Many of the people I mowed for were elderly or at least what I considered advanced in age at that time (it's amazing how that perspective has changed as I've aged myself). These people became much more than mowing customers to me. They became mentors, friends, and what I consider family. They say it takes a village to raise a child and these individuals in our village modeled that in my life.
I mowed for a lot of people, but there are three that will always stick out in my mind because of the relationships we built. All three of these people were women that lived on my block and treated me like a grandson. They were beautiful human beings that had great influence on my life during my most impressionable years. Their love and wisdom is carried in my heart and hopefully passed on to others that I meet in this life.
In their honor, I want to share a little about each and what they meant to me...
First is Mrs. Jackson, a feisty woman with the work ethic of a plow horse. Mrs. Jackson would work in her yard for hours on end, perfecting her flower beds and removing every weed on her property. I can still picture her sitting in the middle of her front yard, 80 years of age, wearing a large sun bonnet and picking weeds in 100 degree heat. We would say "Mrs. Jackson, you better get inside and get some rest." She would respond "I'll rest tonight when it's dark outside and I've had some dinner." Then she would go right back to work and make me question my own work ethic.
When I finished mowing for Mrs. Jackson I would let her know so that she could pay me. She would always have me sit at her table and we would talk. She would tell me stories about life and lessons that I needed to know to help me live mine. After about 30 minutes of talking, I'd try to make my way to the door and head on home or to the next yard. Mrs. Jackson would almost always have me move a piece of furniture or fix something around her house before I left. Then she'd let me head home, but not until I took some pie or cake home for doing the extra work around the house. That lady could bake!
The second woman I want to tell you about is Mrs. Wade, also known as Granny Wade to all the kids in the neighborhood. I would always make sure to save Mrs. Wade's yard for the end of my work day. There were two reason's for this... one is that I lived two houses down from her, so I was almost home for the day. Reason number two is that when you work for Mrs. Wade, you are going to be there for awhile.
Granny Wade would peek out of her curtains from time to time to check on me and make sure I was earning my keep. She never came outside while I mowed, but I knew that she was checking on me. When I had finished the job, I'd knock on the door and then sit in one of two chairs on her front porch. She would come outside and have a seat beside me and say "Did you get it all done son?" I'd respond "Yes Mam." Then she would look around the neighborhood and tell me about all had been going on around here. After that she would ask "Do you want a pop?" I don't drink pop, but you can't tell Granny Wade no, I mean you can, but she won't listen. She would go inside and minutes later return with an ice cold glass of Dr. Pepper for me. I'm not going to lie, that Dr. Pepper always tasted great after a hard days work. Most of the time I'd just drink out of people's water hoses when I finished mowing their yard. So this Dr. Pepper was a welcome change to garden hose water.
Mrs. Wade is from the South and she has an unmatched way of telling stories. She would often tell me the same stories over and over, but I'd sit and be entertained at the manner in which she told them. Her slow drawn out sentences were comforting, no matter what we were talking about. Here is the other thing about Granny Wade, she treated me like Jesus treats me. She often told me and others that I was the perfect boy. One time when I was back home visiting as an adult, an elderly neighbor whom I'd never met called me over to her house. She said, I just want to meet this perfect boy that Granny Wade is always talking about.
Now I can tell you with 100% certainty that I was no where near perfect and Granny Wade knew it. Her and my mom were good friends and my mom would often seek advice from Granny Wade on how to deal with me (I was a handful as a teenager). But Granny Wade had made a decision in her mind that no matter what I did, that's not who I was as a person. She decided that I was perfect and that she would treat me this way. Talk about making a difference in a young man's life, she did it. I say she treated me like Jesus would because He knows how messed up I am, yet he loves me as if I was perfect. Granny Wade was a picture of Jesus to me.
The third and final lady I want to tell you about is Mrs. Core. If God ever sent an Angel to earth in the form of a human, it was Mrs. Core. She might have been the sweetest person to ever live or at least the sweetest person I've ever met. I honestly don't think Mrs. Core could have went out into the rain without melting on the spot.
Her and her husband Carl had always been like grandparents to me. They lived directly across the street from my parents (Carl still lives there) and were two of my favorite people in the world. The Core's yard was the smallest of all the yards that I mowed, yet they paid me more than anyone. Mrs. Core would pay me a little more each year and I couldn't talk her out of it. Their yard was small to mow because everything was landscaped, so there wasn't much grass. These two had turned their back yard into a Japanese garden sanctuary. I guarantee you that Mr. Miyagi from the Karate Kid would have been impressed with this backyard. I would actually sneak back there sometimes and just relax by their koi pond. It was the most beautiful yard I'd ever seen and it's the reason I love to landscape today.
Mrs. Core would have me come inside after mowing and she'd write me a check. Then without fail she would ask me about life and somehow make me feel great, even if I was struggling. Mrs. Core would often pull out her Bible and say "Now Chad, that makes me think of a Scripture. God put this on my heart just for you honey." Then she would read me the scripture and it was always right on target. She would often pray with me and I'd walk out of her house feeling like God had just renewed my Spirit. As I stated earlier, Mrs. Core might have been an angel disguised as a human.
One time Mrs. Core gave me a little bag of rocks. I asked her what it was for and she said... "Chad, you are like David. David used his rocks to slay Goliath. I always want you to remember where your strength comes from and that God can use you mightily." She told me this as a Junior in high school when I was living like a heathen and far from being a man of God. But, Mrs. Core saw something in me that I didn't see in myself. She also had the guts to convey that message; I've never forgotten it and never will forget it.
That's it. These three wonderful elderly ladies spent time with me and changed my life for the better. Here is what's funny, I had no idea that they were building into my life in such a positive manner. I knew I loved them, but sometimes I just wanted to go home to eat and rest after mowing their yards. Yet even when I felt this way inside, I still knew in the back of my mind that I needed time with them and that they needed time with me. Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Wade were widows and didn't have a lot of visitors. They loved when me or my dad worked for them and they got a chance to visit. I always knew this and made time to sit with them after I finished my job. Mrs. Core had Carl and her daughter Carla, but she loved to visit any and everyone that walked through her door.
Each of these beautiful ladies has now passed on and I'm certain are in Heaven with the Lord. I am so thankful for the time I spent with them and for the lessons they taught me. I would give anything to sit and talk with each of them just one more time. I'd give anything to hug them one last time and tell them that I love them. I can still feel each of their hugs and hear their voices. That's what's left and that's what I'll hold on to as long as I live. I'll also do my best to model what they taught me and represent the person that each of these ladies prayed and believed I'd become one day as a man.
I encourage you to take time today to speak with an elder and see what lesson you might learn from them. This will not only be a Blessing for them, but for you as well.
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| Carl and Lavern Core with my daughter Kate |
God Bless,
Coach P
