#4 Real Missionaries

Aunt Sally loaded her basket with jars of homemade pickled peaches from her basement shelves. She felt a little "creaking" in her bones as she topped the last step and closed the basement door behind her. Lifting the basket to her counter she spotted Sarah standing at the screen door.

"Sarah Johnson, put your feet on in here. I am tickled pink to see your gingham pretty self. I'm a bit taken back that you just up and left and never said a pea turkey about your doin's. When I heard you went to Africa to be a missionary I about lost my breath. I was busting my buttons to know you was a'doing so well."

"It's good to be home Sally. I thought I would stop by for a cup of coffee."

"Honey I just made some good Hazelnut coffee. It will go just fine with a nice big piece of apple pie. Let me lay it out and you can tell me about your trip."

Aunt Sally swirled around the kitchen excited to have a visitor and wanting to hear all the news. Sarah sat down at the big oak table and nervously fidgeted with the napkin holder. She bit her lip and tried to concentrate on the surroundings. She respected Aunt Sally and hoped she wasn't about to disappoint her.

"While you were gone it was so wet Bubba was shootin' wild ducks in the parlor! I kept thinking about how you might like a little of that soaking where you were. I do hope things were good there."

Sarah shrugged and gave a half hearted, "Yea. Things were great. It was a wonderful trip." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Looking away from Aunt Sally she continued, "Yes. Definitely. A great trip."

Aunt Sally served the apple pie. Steam floated around the edges. "Did you just make this?"

"Of course, it's Thursday. That's apple pie day. There is nothing like having a special day every week for a fresh slice of pie. It's comforting."

Sarah smiled. Aunt Sally had a way of making the ordinary seem as if it could solve bigger problems.

Finally Aunt Sally plopped into her chair and began stirring sugar into her coffee. "Alright dearie, tell me what's going on. I suspect you've got a kink in your life."

Sarah cut a piece of pie but let it sit on the fork. She looked up at Aunt Sally and tried to smile but her mouth only quivered. Looking back at her plate tears started to form. "I don't know how to say this. I feel like I've let the entire church down. Everyone helped me go to Africa, but...I...well, it wasn't what I thought."

Aunt Sally took a big bite of pie as if nothing was wrong and smiled sweetly. "You didn't like it did you?"

"I wanted to, really I did. I prayed and prayed. The people were so nice and I do think I did some good while I was there, but I was miserable. I had to sleep in an awful place. Sleep nothing - I hardly slept at all. I kept thinking bugs were crawling on me and I'd get up and turn the light on just to be sure. The only place to bathe was in a Victorian style pot. And the food...it was awful and I kept wondering if I had been careful enough so I wouldn't get sick."

Sarah ended her outburst and lifted her fork to her face. Without taking a bite she lowered her arm and continued. "When I got home I spent two days thanking God for my bathroom. I like bubble baths. One day I spent four hours just soaking, crying and refilling the tub when the water got cold. Am I a mess or what?" She finally threw the piece of pie in her mouth and glared at Aunt Sally.

"Now let me get this straight. You thought God spoke to you about being a missionary, but when you got there you weren't so sure. You just don't feel cut out to do that and you're wondering what God's will really is?"

Sarah gulped her pie and reached for her coffee. "Yes! Exactly. What am I supposed to do now?"

"Well, darling, people been fussing about that one for years. I guess it did take me a pretty long spell to figure it out myself. I found out that God's will ain't as difficult as some people think. They get all fuzzed-up about this and that and think there's some kind of rule to follow in order to find some magical gift that God gives to people. I've known a few folks that did find that magical gift, but most of the time God puts his will into our heart the day we come along."

"So I've messed up 25 years?"

"No Darling, slow down." Aunt Sally reached for her hand. "Don't fly up the creek just yet." Aunt Sally poured more coffee and reached for the sugar.

Sarah grabbed her hand, "Please don't think bad of me. I really tried."

"Of course you did. Don't go borrowing trouble. There's not some kind of rule to follow in order to find God's will. He makes sure we have all the talents and desires necessary to fulfill His plan for our life. Then He goes to work making sure we meet those we are supposed to meet. He presents lessons that we're supposed to learn. When he thinks we're good and ready, He brings something out of nowhere and we have to look to heaven and admit to his greatness."

Sarah sipped her coffee. "So what happened? Why didn't I like it? I know God spoke to me about missionary work."

"Well darling, if you'll stop back-jawin' God for just a minute and be still long enough maybe we can see what's on His mind. Don't go skyhootin' over this making it harder to hear God than to hear a whistle in a hurricane."

Aunt Sally scooped up her last bite of pie. She slowly sipped some coffee and waited for Sarah to calm down. When she saw her shoulders relax she continued.

"Some folks don't pay attention to their lessons and they don't know a hen from a hole in the wall. Looking back on their own life all they see is themselves. They don't try to see God's purpose or what He's tried to teach them. So off they go all half-cocked. If you put their brains in a jaybird's head, he'd fly backwards."

Aunt Sally scooted her chair closer to Sarah and took her hands. She gently rubbed them until She had Sarah's full attention.

"God makes sense! It ain't my horseback opinion, it's the truth. God makes sense. He watches our lives like a hawk and makes sure we are equipped for any job he asks us to do. There's been plenty of jobs I've felt compelled to do and it cut my heart strings cause I was sure I couldn't do it. Yet, once I was into it, I felt God a'smiling cause He had taught me good. I did the job and He liked it."

Sarah squinted trying to understand if Aunt Sally thought she should go back to Africa. "So..."

Aunt Sally interrupted, "It's an easy thing to see hurtin' in this world and be touched by it. You don't know, maybe God did want you to take this trip so you could see all the pain that needs help. Maybe, just maybe you aren't supposed to be the help directly. Maybe your supposed to be the person that makes it possible for others to go."

"What do you mean?"

"I once knew a man that had God's will wrote all over his heart. He was old when New Orleans was a blueprint. He'd been a poor dirt farmer and never had two cents to rub together. At least that's what we all thought."

Aunt Sally opened the window and let the sweet smell of honeysuckles fill the air. "We'd see him walking four miles to town and pulling a little wagon so he could bring his vittles home. Him and the family walked two miles to church smiling all the way. People used to think they was so poor that money musta thought old Pete was dead. It wasn't until he passed on that we heard tell the real story."

Sarah loved Aunt Sally's stories. "What happened?"

"Old Pete's farm made just enough for his family. His wife sold blankets, eggs and anything she could put together. That extra money would have been nice for those barefoot kids, but instead Pete decided that God had a plan. Every bit of extra money went to support missionaries and the little church we attended. Everyone at church thought Old Pete would finally be in high cotton when their mortgage was paid off. Instead, they just re-mortgaged the house and gave the money to the church."

"What? I've never heard of such a thing."

"Aint' it the truth. There's more." Aunt Sally scratched her head. "Let's see now. When Old Pete re-mortgaged his house it made the entire congregation feel mighty poorly driving in our so-called needed cars and passing old brother Pete draggin' his wagon. We'd stop and ask if he wanted to pile in, but he would just smile and say - 'Nope, there's too many of us and besides it's a beautiful day for a walk. See you at church'."

Aunt Sally waved her hand in the air. "Him and his brew would smile all the way to church." She shook her finger at Sarah. "Land sakes, child. When he passed away you should have seen that funeral. Big whigs from here and there walking around looking like high cotton 'cause Pete had sent them so much money. There were a lot more poor little missionaries smiling 'cause they got the job done because of Old Pete. Half way through the service those big whigs broke and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. It was so wet we could have built a pond including the fish."

Sarah laughed and grabbed her mouth. "I can't believe it. He was denying comforts to help missionaries?"

"Yep. I ain't saying those hi-fluting folks didn't do good. I sure ain't saying that missionaries don't need our help. I am saying that we got to look at the whole picture. When we do, we see that nobody does anything alone, and we better be thanking the Petes as well as the people they support."

It was as if a light had gone on in Sarah's head. "You mean this feeling about missionaries might be God telling me that they need my support? Maybe I could help more by sending my money."

"That's for you to figure out. I think you better stop fuddle fussin' about God's will and start listening to His voice. Do what He's given you the talents to do and do it with a smile. Give him a chance to lead and stop telling Him where you think you should be going. If you listen and follow Him, you'll be mighty thankful for the ride."

Sarah smiled and nodded her approval.

Aunt Sally brushed crumbs off her apron. "I guess Old Pete is having some kind of party with God and I bet he don't regret draggin' that wagon one little bit."

#3 Splitting the quilt

Sammy got out of his truck and folded his arms on the roof. He starred at the barn hoping Bubba would see him and interrupt his plans to talk to Aunt Sally. The farm was quiet except for the gentle mooing of cows and the tinkling of wind chimes.

Sammy dawdled on the back steps and was just about to knock on the weathered screen door when he heard Aunt Sally calling.

"I'm fixing to put a cake in the oven, come on in here. I'll be there directly."

"Hi Aunt Sally."

"Well hello there Sammy. I just made some wonderful coffee and I was in a swivet to get this cake in the oven. Goodness gracious it's hot enough to roast the devil. Let me open a window and let the breeze freeze. I guess you are here to see Bubba. I'll holler for him. He must have slipped off somewheres."

"No, don't. It's okay. I thought I would talk to you first." Sammy shuffled from one foot to the other and shoved his hands in his pockets.

Aunt Sally smiled and put her hands on her hips. "Shore thing Sammy. Boy, ain't this a first. You and bubba been closer than two peas in a pod every since we moved here. This is probably the first time we ever split a cup. How about trying my new coffee?" She put her arm around him, gave him a pat on the back and pushed him toward the table.

Aunt Sally didn't wait for an answer. She hustled to the cabinet and returned with cups and saucers. "That sweet little Rosey Jones gave it to me last week. She said it was better than licking up honey. It's called Jumpin Java and it's supposed to taste like French toast. How about a cup?"

Sammy smiled as Aunt Sally filled both cups. He turned his head and sighed.

"What are you looking for Sammy? You're studying my window so hard you're likely to loose your eyes. Is there a varmint out there?" Aunt Sally stepped to the window to check it out.

"No Mame. I just...well...Oh, I don't know." Sammy stirred his coffee and took a sip while Aunt Sally sat down and studied his eyes.

Aunt Sally pushed the plate of cookies in front of Sammy. "Go on, have a cookie and tell Aunt Sally everything and be sure to tell it with the bark on."

Sammy took a cookie but kept a tight stare on his coffee. How could he tell the person he admired the most that he was thinking about divorce? It felt like he was not only letting his wife down but Aunt Sally too.

Aunt Sally settled into her chair and waited for Sammy to gain his courage.

"Aunt Sally, I don't know what to do. It's Peg and me. We just aren't happy and I don't think we are going to make it. I don't like what she's become and I'm...I'm not sure I love her anymore. She looks miserable all the time I'm pretty sure she feels the same way."

"Sammy, you talking about splitting the quilt with Peg?"

Sammy ran his fingers through his unruly hair. He put his head in his hands, "I just don't know anymore. Maybe we should...oh, I don't know."

"Well, Sammy, you got that right. You don't know. You better sneeze boy; I think your brains are dusty! Is Peg flirting with the devil? Is she not smoothin' your covers? Are you a-doing the same?

"No! No Aunt Sally, it's nothing like that. I'm just not happy anymore and neither is Peg. She never laughs like she used to. We don't have any fun together and it just seems like more and more work. I don't want to spend the next 40 years miserable."

Aunt Sally sat back in her chair and took a bite of her cookie. Her body relaxed and her smile comforted Sammy. "Sammy honey, you need to go sand your tongue cause it's spitting out a fallacy you'll pay for. You and Peg will be fine in you'll tote fair. I've seen Peg. She's over here about every two days."

Aunt Sally leaned forward and touched his arm. "We're like sisters and I've seen her change too. Nobody was paying me to butt in so I left it alone. But I do know what's wrong, and I guess it's about time I let her fly."

"When you and Peg jumped the broom, you both were happy as a strawberry cooter. Everyone thought you had fell into magnolia cause you both were so delirious in love. Peg was gingham pretty and you were best bull at the fair."

Aunt Sally poured another cup of coffee. "That Peg would go to the bridge for you no matter what you wanted to do. Then for some reason you forgot who she was. You stopped seeing her as your prize and started being a fuddle fusser over things not worth a bauble. Peg stopped laughing and started trying to please you. But you stole the heart right out of her."

Sammy clinched his fist. It's not all my fault.

Aunt Sally sensed his feelings. "I'm not saying it's all your fault, but you got to see the whole hog and that means there will be a foot or two you won't like."

Sammy sat back in his chair. He knew when not to argue with Aunt Sally.

Aunt Sally sipped her coffee and took another bite of cookie. "You stole the heart out of Peg when you picked on her and made demands that she couldn't keep. You chawed her up so much in public she couldn't put her head outside the door without turning red. At first she tried. I watched her try. But pretty soon she couldn't keep looking at you like her prince charming when all she saw was the whip of your tongue."

Aunt Sally took a deep breath and sighed. "Pretty soon I just watched her give up."

Sammy sipped his coffee and twisted in his chair. He was determined to wait and see if Aunt Sally had a solution to this impossible situation.

"I'm sure it does feel like the love is gone. But what I don't understand is why people feel like love is suppose to flourish on it's own. It don't!" With that, Aunt Sally tapped the table with her finger.

"Love has to be protected and nourished. No wonder most wives are in the mulligrubs and given to balks. Men treat their friends better than they pretend to treat their wives. They wouldn't dare tell someone at the office they don't like their new passion but somehow they feel it just fine to pick their poor spouse apart."

Aunt Sally walked over to the window and picked up a small hand fan. She stood in the breeze and continued to fan herself. Her voice softened. The smell of the baking cake swirled around the kitchen and floated out the window.

"I understand men are pressured and feel like life has given them more than they can handle, but that's no reason to pass the whole bale of cotton to the wife. Marriage is a washtub with handles on both sides. Nobody carries the whole weight all the time. Oh, there's times when you gotta take on more. When she's in the misery or can't help, that's the time you carry the entire load knowing that soon as rain she'll be helping again."

Sammy felt a lump rising in his throat. Aunt Sally was right. He was guilty of putting a lot on Peg. Aunt Sally stood behind Sammy and put her hand on his shoulder.

"It's hard for men to understand, but wives aren't some employee that needs to tow the line. Just like that new truck of yours, or your huntin' gun or the roof on your house, Peg has a warranty guide. A list of needs and instructions that must be met or she will break down. That list of needs ain't wrote anywhere ceptin' on her heart."

Aunt Sally sat down and moved closer to Sammy. She softened her voice and spoke in tones that would soothe any bull. "You need to talk to her with open arms. She's not gonna tell you how she feels if she thinks there's a fight waiting to happen. You have to listen to her as if everything in your world depends on what she says....it does you know."

The lump had transferred to tears in his eyes. Sammy managed a wobbly, "I know".

"If she says she don't want friends to listen to you funnin' about her cooking - then don't do it. Cause it's gonna put her in low cotton. Don't make fun of something that is so precious to you and your future."

They both sat still for a few minutes. Sammy fought back tears of regret. He had been guilty of not appreciating Peg and making fun of her faults to everyone they knew.

"I realize that if you are bound and determined to split the quilt, there's nothing nobody can do about it. You got to understand that loving is more than just smoothin' the covers. You got to work on the "real" loving. It's holding her hand or touching her face. You need to tell her she's prettier than a sunset or pick daisies and then cuddle in the parlor. If you treat her like you did when you first jumped the broom, it will take a while cause she's got to trust you again, but she'll be back. And you'll find the happiness and joy that you're missing. Why before you know it, you'll be old partners like me and Bubba."

Aunt Sally slapped her knee and laughed hard. "He's a he-huckelberry man and not much for talking, but he's got a heart as big as a coot gizzard and I love him. We've been happier than a hen with one chick. And you can be too!"

For the first time, Sammy relaxed in his chair and gave a smile of relief. "What if I mess up? I'm not good at this sort of thing."

Aunt Sally shoved another cookie at him as she giggled. "Aunt Sally's here and I'm gonna talk you through it. Excusing God, nobody knows what's coming. But if we work and do our part, God will do His. Like the good book says, Love is His specialty. Now take that cookie and get on outa here. Time for talk is done. You go mend your fence."

Aunt Sally gave Sammy a hug that bugged his eyes.

"Oh my cake!" She grabbed her apron and used it as a potholder. She lifted the warm cake out of the oven.

Sammy put his arms around her waist. "Maybe I should stay a while and help you get rid of that cake."

"Oh no you don't." Aunt sally squealed as she slapped his back and ushered him to the door. "You've got a fence to mend. Get on outta here."

He took the steps two at a time knowing Aunt Sally would keep her promise.

#2 I love Bubba

Aunt Sally stepped out on the porch. Her nose expanded as she rounded her arms and took the deepest breath she could. She ended her reach for the sky by going up on her tip toes. She blew through her teeth like a balloon with a hole in it. "My that sky is beautiful! God you sure are showing off today. And the smell...ahhh...it's coming up honeysuckle!"

Before her heals could return to the porch, two large arms wrapped around her fluffy tummy.

"What in the world? Oh Bubba." For a moment Aunt Sally snuggled into his grip. Remembering her dinner, she wiggled free and lightly hit his arm. "You best get on in there and get washed up for supper. We are eating high on the hawg tonight."

Bubba headed for the bathroom while Aunt Sally shuffled food to the table. "I shore do love that man, but he's like a poke-easy mule and he's a gonna twiddle around so's suppers shore to be cold. Ah, ain't no use getting at yarns end. I'm bat-brained crazy for him and he knows it."

Bubba stood in the doorway, rounded his shoulders and began to sniff the air and mock Aunt Sally. "My that supper smells wonderful!" He smiled as Aunt Sally gave him a look and nodded at the table.

"It's about time Bubba." She piled the last piece of meat on a platter. "Supper's rising out the pan. I made you some golden brown fried chicken, mashed taters and gravy, mile high biscuits with molasses and honey, maters sweet and juicy, just picked sweet corn and country sweet ice tea."

Bubba smacked his lips and rubbed his hands together. "Darlin' I l-o-v-e you."

"I know you do, but I'm studying whether it's me or the chicken you love the most at this particular moment."

Bubba pushed back his chair and stood to hold hers in place. He bowed and continued to grin at her.

"What you standing there grinning for? You look like you swallered a watermelon rind."

"I love you darlin'." With one swoop he presented Aunt Sally with a handful of flowers.

"Oh bubba. You picked me some daisies. Ain't they so pretty. Bubba you take the huckleberry offen the bush. I fell into some kind of wonderful magnolia when you came along." She sniffed and found her hankie in her apron.

"Oh Bubba." She sniffed again as she rubbed her nose and pushed back a string of loose hair. "Oh fiddle dee dee. I know you is hungry as a bug in a tater patch. You go ahead and eat while I get these flowers a drink."

Bubba grabbed her hand. "Let's pray first."

While Bubba prayed she thanked God not only for the meal but for a loving and kind husband.

"Good food, huh!"

Bubba smiled and took another bite of chicken.

"I been sitting here studying our years together Bubba. I reckon we've had a powerful good life. Now I know it ain't done yet. but I suppose we can thank the good Lord for showing off so early and just take what comes now with a little less thought. I figure life is a like that beautiful sunset out there. Ain't it pretty? I heard tell once that the colors come from dust in the air."

Bubba stopped to look out the window and ponder with Aunt Sally. "Dust?" He poured honey on his biscuit.

"Yep. I hear tell that's why you never know what it's gonna look like. I guess the parti-cles move around and are different every time. Yet...no matter what, it's beautiful. Funny huh?

Bubba wiped his mouth. "Shore is funny."

Aunt Sally snickered, "Real funny. God doesn't clean up and we get a pretty picture. Hum...maybe life is like that. You do what you can and when the dust settles God'll make it a pretty picture anyway. How about some more coffee and a piece of pineapple upside down cake?"

"That would be great." Bubba wiped his mouth and helped carry the dishes to the sink.

"I shore do miss our youngins. Having eleven of them running round the creek shore does bring up a lot of memories. And now that they are all gone, it just seems too still."

"It's not still Sally." Bubba pushed back in his chair.

"Oh go on. I know what your gonna say. The quiet ain't took over yet. I know it seems like I got a swinging door to my kitchen. Some body's always eating out of my pans. But my heart just aches when I see people so down and out. They seem to be trying but they done hemmed a bear with their life."

"You got that right." Aunt Sally cut a piece of cake and sat it in front of Bubba.

"It just don't seem right that two people God blessed and gave a few answers to should shut our bug gap and not share. Pondering back on our life, we ain't never been a-flutin' an' a-flying' like most folks, but we did just fine. Our children were happy and they've all made their own lives grand.

I still can't believe that eight of them chose some type of ministry. But then, I guess when your folks best friend is God, kids kinda get use to him being around. I recollect us praying together over most all our doins. I spect they saw it and liked the answers we got. I don't reckon they saw us standing in need of much and maybe they felt our road was straight. Bubba, you and me got more wrinkles than a washboard, but we still got a strong and healthy life. You know why?"

Bubba swallowed his cake and took a quick sip of coffee. "Whys that darlin'."

"I think it's cause we didn't waste our time with dead pigs. We spent our time building our kin and God's people. Loving and bridging the gap. We laughed hard, we cried sweet and cause of God we slept easy. Looking back is a fun thing and looking ahead seems like more of the same. And if it ain't..." Aunt Sally looked deep into Bubba's brown eyes.

He took her hand and with a deep voice of commitment said, "If it ain't my darlin', we'll be okay cause we're together."

Aunt Sally smiled, "Well, we've been in mud before, but a good rain and it all washes off. I guess that's why I likes helping people. I just ain't afraid. Life makes sense and what don't make sense is God's job anyway. I think getting older is a good thing. If it's done right then you gotta lota stuff to pass on to others."

Bubba poured another cup of coffee for both of them. Aunt Sally was on a roll and he thought better than to interrupt.

"The problem with a lot of people is they bile up a mess of clouds in their first 40 years so's their last 40 is one big storm. It hurts me to meet those kind. Their souls are ugly 'nough to vomit a buzzard. All I want to tell them is to slow down and just taste the coffee. God's more comforting than two quilts on a snowed high day. Whoa, I been carrying on something fierce, and here you are with an empty plate. I never knew you to eat just one piece of cake. Let me get you another."

Bubba stopped her and smiled. He leaned over and gave her a kiss. "I love you my little speckled hen."

"I love you too, Bubba." She sat back down and rubbed his hands in hers. "I want to thank you. Thank you for a wonderful marriage. I've jawed with a lot of people who are so low they have to reach up to touch bottom. They either feel as trapped as a firefly or mad as a settin' hen and they jest wants outta their marriage. I ain't never felt that way. I'm powerful proud to be your wife. I know we are so different. You don't say pea turkey and my mouth could power a town. " Tears dropped off her cheeks. "I never knowed love until you Bubba. You're big and strong as an ox and yet quiet and gentle. I've watched you wrestle a mad goat and then jest as easy pick daisies so's I'd cackle."

Bubba swiped at the tear rolling down his own cheek.

"Bubba, I love just watching your eyes. They make the world so beautiful. The way they look at sunsets and rainstorms and big motors and especially the way you look at me. Your eyes tell me I'm beautiful. When you look at me there are no wrinkles and my figure is gingham pretty. I touch your strong face and remember how I felt the first time I laid eyes on you." She gently cupped his face in her hand.

Bubba started to snicker, "Yea, I remember looking at you so hard that I took a step back and fell over that log."

"I laughed so hard I almost popped my gizzard string." Aunt Sally threw her head back and laughed. Bubba twirled his fork and Aunt Sally sipped her coffee.

Aunt Sally wiped her wedding ring with her napkin. "I remember the first time you took my hand at preaching. That's when I knew love. You looked at me and I...I thought your eyes would drown me. I could see all the love right there in your eyes."

Bubba threw his arm over the back of the chair and smiled at her.

"I guess most people today think love is getting something they can hold in their hand. But I think real love is having eyes on your heart. Thank you Bubba. Thank you for letting me see all the love in your heart."

"You know I'm not as jawin' as you my darlin', but I love you a powerful lot."

"I know. I love you too , Bubba."

#1 A bun in the oven

A breeze floated through the Oak and Apple trees surrounding Aunt Sally’s farmhouse. Gladys starred at the shutters hand painted with magnolias and debated whether or not she should go inside. She took a deep breath and shuffled to the back. The smell of warm cake billowed around the screen door. Gladys knocked softly secretly hoping that Aunt Sally wouldn’t hear.

“I’m coming, just hold on. I’m coming.” Her eyes twinkled with excitement as she pushed on the door. “Oh my goodness, Land sakes. Look who’s at my door! Don’t just stand there child, come on in. I’m so glad to see you.”

Aunt Sally grabbed Gladys and gave her a hug so hard it made Gladys cough. She couldn't help but smile in return.

“It’s been quite a while since you sat a spell with Aunt Sally. Pull yourself on in here and let’s pull up a pulpit and talk.”

Gladys looked around the kitchen warm with memories of happy times. As a child she played with Aunt Sally’s children and shared many meals in this room. Gladys rubbed the polished wood of the big family table and took a seat near the end. She fidgeted wondering if Aunt Sally would understand.

“Honey, you look as pitiful as ham without eggs. I’m sure something must be wrong. But don’t you worry none. We’ll sit a spell and make the sun shine.” Aunt Sally swirled around to the stove. “Let me get us some good coffee and something to eat and then you can tell me what’s got you so down in the mouth. I just made a fresh pot of black forest coffee. Ummmm is it goo-oo-od! ” She shook her head and smacked her lips. Aunt Sally loved her coffee.

She pulled down two mugs and reached for plates. She lifted the old tin lid on an antique cake plate. Rushing the contents to the table she announced, “And to go with it a three layer chocolate cake. I do hate to take on this way, but I’m so hungry my belly thinks my throat’s cut.” Aunt Sally guffawed.

“Here ya go sweetie. Fix your coffee and I’ll cut the cake. I do need to ask you something. Sister Martha told me you had a bun in the oven. How precious! I’m sure you are so thrilled……Woah!”

Tears splashed down Gladys cheeks. She put her head in her hands.

“What ya crying for? This ain’t no way to take on. You know that Martha. She gets ‘round so much she keeps running into herself. If she was just taking on, it don’t matter none. Don’t cry about it.”

Gladys shook her head. “It’s not that. I am… pregnant…Oh Aunt Sally.” She grabbed Aunt Sally around the waist and buried her head in the apron.

“Oh. You are going to have a baby.” Aunt Sally paused to size up the situation. “Well good! Ain't that nice?”

Gladys shook her head again.

Aunt Sally sighed. “Are these tears of joy?” She lifted Gladys’ face out of her apron. “Heaven’s dear don’t go into a snit. Take my hankie and dry those eyes. Let's eat a little cake and drink a little coffee and you can tell Aunt Sally everything. And you know what? It’s going to be jest fine.” Aunt Sally patted her hands and pushed the coffee closer.

Like a best friend Aunt Sally sat in silence and drank her coffee and nibbled at her cake. She waited patiently for Gladys to find her courage. Aunt Sally’s cake was almost gone when Gladys finally made eye contact.

“I’m scared. You probably don’t understand being scared about a baby. It’s just that there’s so much junk in the world. I’ll be totally responsible for another human being. What if I mess up? What if I am such a failure at parenting that I raise a mass murderer or just a really messed up kid? I love Fred and we really do want children, but now that it’s happening, I’m just so scared. My parents caused me some problems and Fred’s parents – well everyone in town knows how awful they were. Maybe we aren’t prepared for this. I’ve never been totally responsible for anyone ever – not even in school. I’ve never been in charge of a club or even served on a committee. How in the world am I going to raise a human being without messing it up?”

Aunt Sally just smiled and shook her head back and forth. Then she giggled and finally she got up, pulled Gladys to her feet and hugged her hard while giving her little pats on the back. Gladys cried as if her heart would break. Finally she plopped back down in the chair while Aunt Sally poured another cup of coffee.

“I can’t believe you are so worried about having a precious bundle. Don’t you know that life is short and full of blisters, but having a baby keeps us centered? I think you’ve been ponderin’ so hard, you ain’t had time to think.”

Aunt Sally poured a tall glass of milk and set it in front of Gladys. “Now I know that today’s life is nothin’ like how I grew up. You're right about that. But the roots that I came from are still alive and well. We just have to dig for them and make sure that we got aholt of the real thing. With all that’s going’ on nowadays we start digging for roots and we come up with a lot of rot.

Take for instance all those physio-chia-trists. A lot of people go down the creek with them. Some of them I’ve heard tell would hold a fish under water to drown it! And then you got parents bolting from here to there trying to find some magic cure. They are doing a heap of stirring and making no biscuits.”

Aunt Sally’s eyes grew soft and her smile spread wide. “You want the truth dear. Old Aunt Sally will give you the truth.” She took Gladys hands and held them in her own.

“You got a heart as soft as summer butter. I can tell that. You want to do what’s right for your child. That’s the best place to start. After a whole heap of loving, then you got to work your praying’ bones. You know what I mean by that don’t ya? Get down on your knees everyday and build a rainbow from your house to heaven for your child.”

Aunt Sally sat back and took a long drink of coffee. Gladys was beginning to relax when Aunt Sally pointed her finger.

“Then you’ve got to live right. Most kids don’t know how to live their life because they never seen it done right. Their parents heads are full of stump water, they’d rather tell a lie for credit than the truth for cash, and they don’t know right from wrong and yet they expect their children to do things they don’t do themselves.”

She smiled as Gladys rubbed at her tummy. “It’s moving.” Aunt Sally clapped her hands and softly cheered, yea!

Aunt Sally continued, “If you want this child to love you and do what’s right, then you have to be a person of honor. Some parents live the most bat-brained lives and then take on something awful when their children are just like them.

You can’t plant rhubarb and expect to get peaches. We have to live an honest life in front of them and not just try to pull the wool over their eyes. We can’t be hypocrites. No wonder we are up to our ears in hornets. Our children no longer believe in us. Now as long as you honestly live a proper and true life in front of your child, he will respect you. Love, respect, honor and truth are some powerful ingredients for a good kid.”

Gladys helped Aunt Sally stack the dishes.

“The last thing you got to do is parent from within – not from without. Most parents want to make a fancy impression on their friends and look like the perfect parent. They put a lot of rules and regulations on their kids so they’ll look like they are doing their job. But the problem with that is it makes the parent as cold as kraut. They don’t develop a relationship with their child other than being a po-lice. They become tough as leather and unmovable and then the child don’t care a hate and before you know it the whole thing is full of turkey dreams.”

Aunt Sally washed while Gladys dried the dishes. The sun was peeking through the clouds and added a soft glow to the room. Gladys felt her body relaxing as she let the words and the atmosphere sink in.

“You listen to 'ol Aunt Sally. I raised 11 children and 8 of them are in the ministry. We have a wonderful family and I know what I’m talking about. What you got to do is go on and take the rag off. Stop pretending! Don't try to tell your child you are something that you aren't.

If you want your child to follow a rule or request or whatever, then it is your job to convince him it’s the right thing to do. If you can’t support it with good reasons, then maybe neither of you should be a-doing it. First tell him how you live it every day. Then why you do it that way. And help him pick up that notion and make it his. When he believes it with his whole heart, he’ll live it. You won’t have to have rules; he will naturally cling to it.

Gladys smiled as tears of joy trickled down her face. Aunt Sally put her arms around Gladys as she leaned on Aunt Sally’s shoulder. “That li’l old peach fuzzy will grow up just fine as long as you live by truth. The holy book says, “Know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Gladys kept her head on Aunt Sally's shoulder as they prayed together. She patted her tummy and smiled. This baby will be fine as long as I have Aunt Sally.

The Old South

I grew up in the Old South around many Aunt Sally types. Every mother felt responsible for every child. It didn't matter if you were the kid down the street or even a preacher's kid like I was. If you were doing something wrong an Aunt Sally type would yell, "Debbie Crocker, you stop that right now or I'll tan your hide and haul you to your momma and show her what I've done!"

Those ladies earned my trust. With every demand I saw love in their eyes. I knew they were concerned and if I had a problem I could rush to them for help. Earned trust allowed them to say things to me that others wouldn't dare. They could tell me off and demand instant obedience. Because their hugs and concern were genuine, all I felt was love - and yes, I obeyed!

The Southern women I knew were wonderful cooks, passionate about people, extremely outspoken, demanded obedience to rules, propriety and God's laws - and the best huggers in the world. A child can get lost in those hugs. My love for them was so strong that I would rather die than endure their disappointment. I loved them.

My mother was one of those precious ladies.

I remember waking to the smell of frying bacon and oven browned biscuits. Mother never called me to breakfast. She would quietly walk into my room; wipe my face with a warm cloth and singsong "Wake up Debbie. The sunshine is calling you and today is going to be a great day."

While her voice was sweet as honey when she was encouraging, it could be as deep and loud as a roaring train whistle if I needed correction. Maybe the ability to call me from two blocks away was a result of preaching for so many years without the help of a microphone.

Breakfast was not a meal. To a southerner it was an experience that involved all five senses. My eyes bulged with the colors and over abundance of food. The table groaned with mile high biscuits, crisp thick bacon, sausage links, scrambled eggs light and fluffy, hot grits turned yellow by a river of butter, homemade peach jam, half a grapefruit, hot coffee and fresh orange juice.

My nose swelled as each scent passed before me.

My hands wrapped around a hot biscuit as I tore it open and let butter seep into every crevice. Jam joined the butter until it ran over the edge of the biscuit down my third finger and under my shirtsleeve. It seemed to taste better if you had to chase it with your tongue.

My ears perked to attention as each plate was passed around the table with lively conversation.

My mouth savored every bite hoping the goodness I tasted would be remembered forever. And it has been. No joy can compare to the thoughts of waking as the Georgia sun shone past the dew laden pine trees into a home where mom prepared a breakfast extravaganza.

That breakfast stayed with me as I climbed the red dirt hills and found adventures under a mound of pine straw or better yet a Magnolia tree. Large magnolia trees wound their arms close to the ground so children could enter the world of imagination. Crawling past the massive outer leaves revealed a world of bare curving branches that lead skyward. Those outer leaves created the feeling of a tent and with just a little believing that tent could become a five-story building with the branches acting as stairs. I thought my make believe Southern mansion decorated with it's broad magnolia blossoms was as beautiful as any home I'd ever seen.

I spent a lot of time practicing to be just like the Southern women I loved. I would drag all my toy pots, pans and dishes under that huge magnolia so I could make supper for my dolls. Red Georgia clay provided a nice base when mixed with rainwater, grass, honeysuckle and seeds. I would enhance the presentation by adding one of mom's prized flowers to the plate. I was the mud pie queen. I learned a lot about life and creativity under the shade of that huge tree.

In my south, love was deep and strong and could last a lifetime. Maturity wasn't desirable - it was demanded. God wasn't a question mark - he was an exclamation point. And family....well family defined who you were as much as what you looked like. Tough times were shared with friends and neighbors who lightened the load. They never asked what they could do, they just did it. Hope filled that world. We made mistakes - awful mistakes - but we knew that if we worked hard and minded Aunt Sally, life would turn out all right.

Come with me and let's visit Aunt Sally's Kitchen. Set in today's world it might speak to you of how we all should "act like somebody." And even if you view it only as fiction, I know you will love her as much as I do.