Did you ever tell a lie to your mom? I mean, not a little white lie, but one that would ignite her wrath? I know I may have slid a few past my mom. Like many mothers, she had a seventh sense that I call “the eye.”
My mom was a teacher, principal and administrator in the Chatham County Public School System for nearly 40 years. She taught, loved and hugged just about everyone in West Chatham County during that time, and she even expelled some students. She was one tough lady when it came to the education process, and to her and her staff being respected. (Photo caption above: (L to R) me, my wife Maria, “mom”, sisters Patti and Pam and brother Eddie attending this year’s luncheon.)
I still hear stories from people who attended her classes or were enrolled at a school where she was the principal or administrator. They all agreed that you couldn’t pull one over on Mrs. DeLoach. She would just know that you weren’t being totally honest with a story you just laid out for her.
They also recalled how Mrs. DeLoach would give you “the eye.” I knew it well. She would look you straight in both eyes and look down into your soul to see what you were really saying. You could feel the sweat coming off your forehead, your tongue sticking to the roof of your mouth and your body starting to shake because you wanted to run away from her as fast as you could. That is when you just had to confess to God, Mrs. DeLoach and anyone near you that you were coming clean with the truth.
I laugh at this seventh sense that my mom has long had, and I certainly remembered it this past Mother’s Day. I am blessed to still have my hero around and be able to spend time with her.
The Abbie DeLoach Foundation (ADF) also held a luncheon recently to celebrate 29 scholarship recipients who have demonstrated academic excellence, exemplary service work or athletic commitment. They are now part of the ADF family.
As I shared with the young women of the group, some day they may become mothers themselves. And they, too, just may find they have been given the seventh sense that’s like a truth detector — “the eye.”
Live inspired,
Jimmy
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