Influential People

I was reading something today in someone else's blog; they were talking about people who had an impact on their life. It made me start to think about the people in my own life who had an influence on the things I do, say or think. My list is as follows:
1. My mother - the one line I always remember my mother saying when asked why she was nice to mean people - "God only holds me responsible for how I treat people, not for how they treat me". This line has carried me through many a difficult situation and had kept me out of jail. My mother was kind, loving and meek - but mess with her and she could put you in your place in a nice way. This is what I try to do. She was the best mother. One day I asked my mother why she did something things when raising us...she said she did the best she could do....that answer was enough for me....I love her so much and miss her even more....I want to hear her voice again, and just smell her skin...I forget what she smells like.

2. My grandmother - Grandma reached out to the very people most of us would ignore. She reached out to the drunk in the ditch, or the sick and homeless. I am friends with the friendless, I hug people who smell or who are dirty; I am especially nice to the people that others are not nice to. I will feed the hungry, even when we are selling dinners at church and that person has no money. I will share what I have even if nothing is left for me. I miss her so much and just want to hug her.

3. My father - he taught me to stand up for myself; to work for what I want in life; to not settle for cheap products - get the best for your money. He made sure each of his children had a car, purchased with their own money; he taught me the importance of keeping a clean car and maintaining the upkeep to have your car running at its best. He taught us to do nice things for people, especially older people, and do not expect to be paid in cash; never charge your family for anything. He taught us to pay our tithes to the church. He may not have always made the best decisions or did things the right way, but he is my father and I love him very much.

4. My son - having a child makes you examine everything you do because now someone is watching you and learning by your example. He has made me a better person because I think about my choices, my words, my attitude and my actions because he is learning from me.

5. My husband - he accepted me for the person I am when someone else rejected me because I was not what they wanted me to be. He loved me unconditionally. He taught me how to fix things, the different names for screwdrivers; he let me push a lawnmower for the first time in my life. He puts up with me, and I with him.

6. My pastor's wife - I learned how to be a quiet storm - dignity under fire. I could be angry with a smile on my face. I did not always have to speak my mind because I had the right. There are times it is better to be quiet than to be right. And to always support your husband and never publicly speak against him. Have discussions with your husband in a moving car so that he cannot walk away from you....he has no where to go.


I have also learned things from negative people and how NOT to be like them. From these people I have learned to:
1. Be thankful
2. Don't complain
3. Always see the bright side
4. Look for the good in people
5. Being right is not always a good thing
6. Always tell the truth and deal with the fall-out; it is better than telling a lie and never being trusted again. Trust is harder to earn the second time around.
7. No one is better than you.
8. Appreciate the people in your life.

Enough said for today. These people and the way they lived, spoke, acted has helped to shape my life, and for that I am most grateful.