What My Grandma Taught Me

While vacuuming the living room yesterday, I stepped away from the vacuum cleaner and left it running while I moved a piece of furniture, But I did it quickly because I did not want to leave the vacuum cleaner running in one place for very long so I did not burn a hole in the carpet.

That is one of the things I remember my Grandma telling me when I was a kid.  Obviously, it is not true; however, as a kid I always wondered, but feared burning a hole in the carpet to test that theory.  Still to this day when I step away from the running vacuuming cleaner, I do so quickly!

So yesterday as I quickly got back to the vacuum cleaner I laughed at myself as I still deep inside hold to that little bit of silly theory, which made me think of another thing my Grandma taught us….

If you sing at the table you are feeding the devil.  I do remember one day when my older cousin Joey was sitting at the table singing she told him “Joe! Stop that! You are feeding the devil!”  His reply was “Grandma, he’s got to eat sometime.”  The other grandchildren and I sat in silence and fear.  I was scared for him; not sure if I feared that Grandma was going to reach across the table and take him down or if it was for his mortal soul I feared.

At last my theology has advanced in years and I do not fear that I would aid the enemy if I sing a song at the dinner table.  I do recognize that my Grandma was trying to instill eternal damnation if we did not practice good manners – HA!  It is very tempting to use such tactics with teaching manners to my own children.

With tongue in check I tell my kids “Don’t lie – lairs go to hell”!  I don’t think I am putting the fear of God in them – they laugh at me; but I do let them know it is sin, and sin separates you from God.

I wonder if my Cousin Joey still sings at the table….