The
other day for some reason my wife decided to teach our 12 year old son how to
walk cool. For some reason my 16 year
old daughter decided to help.
They
marched Anderson back and forth through the den.
“Pull
your shoulders back.”
“No
don’t lean so much.”
“Keep
your feet apart.”
“No.”
“Not
like that.”
“Oh,
my gosh, boy! Walk like a man!”
I
was at the kitchen counter with my laptop not saying a word. After several stressful and HILARIOUS
minutes, I pushed the barstool back, motioned for Anderson to come to me, and
put my arm around his shoulder.
Then
we silently walked across the room together.
My
wife looked at Anderson and said, “You walk fine when you’re walking with
Daddy.”
When
he’s walking with Daddy he walks just fine.
He walks like a man.
There’s
a certain way that a man is supposed to physically, financially, emotionally,
and spiritually walk through life. A
houseful of women can sometime with much effort, frustration, error, and
failure ultimately teach a boy how to walk through life like a man; but the
best, most effectively way is for him to just walk with Daddy.
When I was my father’s son, tender
and the only one in the sight of my mother, my father taught me, and said to me,
“Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commands, and live.” (Proverbs 4: 3-4)
---Anderson T. Graves
II is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry,
and rural leadership development.
Rev.
Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield,
Alabama; executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking
Organization (SAYNO); and director of
rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
You
can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button
on the right-hand sidebar.
Support
by check or money order may be mailed to
Miles
Chapel CME Church
P O
Box 132
Fairfield,
Al 35064
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