A Lesson From Daddy

I learned many lessons from daddy growing up. Some were extremely important. This one I want to mention is just one I learned from watching dad and listing.

We had a small country store, so we knew most everyone in our community, that was right neat in itself.

But I remember the many conversations my dad had with one man. His name is not important, I will just call him Mr. brown, which is not his name.

Mr. Brown would come over to the store many times just to talk and catch up on what was going on. Back in those day there at our store was where they learned that someone in our community had died or hose has burned, or the many other things.

My dad was 100% Democrat, Mr. Brown was 100% Republican, so some times their conversations got a bit heated.

I remember observing them one time when it nearly got a bit overheated, as least to me it seemed that way. But I also remember dad saying as Mr. Brow drove off, I hope this not to mad and comes back, not really saying that to me, just expressing his thoughts with words.

Well Mr. Brown did come back, many times. He and dad had many more conversations for as long as he was physically able to.

The lesson I learned by watching dad and Mr. Brown is this. Two people can have a big difference of opinion on whatever it may be, it should not stop them from being friends. And also that even if someone else's opinion differs from ours, we should hold complete respect for them and their right with out getting hostile and bent out of shape.

Dad and Mr. Brown taught that to me as a young boy in rural Arkansas in the 50's, without knowing the very valuable lesson that would be to me and the many times it would help me in my life. I just wish more people could learn such a lesson. It would make America a much better place. Maybe even displace much of the hate so many have nowadays.

May God Bless,
Jerry