Our high school history teacher gave each of us the name of a well-known American and told us to read a biography about him, write a summary of the book, and read it to the class. I was assigned philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.
In the book, I came across a well-known Emerson quote: “Men are what their mothers made them.” One afternoon, as my boyhood best friend and mentor, Jaybird, and I lounged on his porch, gazing across my father’s Mississippi Delta cotton farm, I mentioned the quote and said that I didn’t quite understand it. Surely Emerson appreciated the way the old black man explained it.
“Boy, what lessons does Miss Lena preach to you de most?”
“Well, when I complain about going to church, Mama says, ‘Jesus wants you to be in His Father’s house on the Sabbath. Never forget: Jesus lives in you.’” Jaybird nodded and told me to continue.
“Mama often says, ‘Many people are unhappy because they try to be what they aren’t. Never forget: Be yourself.’” Again, the old man nodded.
“Whenever Mama sees me treat my brothers or sisters unkindly, she says, ‘What goes around in life, comes around. Everybody struggles with problems nobody else knows about, which is why we all need a steady feedback of worth, value, and dignity from others. Give others those things, and they will come back to you. Never forget: No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.’”
Jaybird nodded, smiled affectionately at me, and said, “Miss Lena is sho’ raisin’ you right, boy. You don’t realize hit now, but you will someday. Men is what dey mamas made them.”
“How so?” I asked.
“Well, let’s start wit what she said ’bout Jesus livin’ in you. Dat voice you heah when Satan tempts you is Jesus’ voice — what folks call conscience. All of us fall victim to Satan’s evil temptations sometime, but if Jesus didn’t live in you, you wouldn’t feel so bad after lettin’ de devil tempt you. Men who never forgit dat Jesus lives in dem turn out to be bettuh men than those who don’t. Yo’ mama knowed dat.
“And her teachin’ you dat unhappy people is dat way ’cause dey makes demselves out to be sumpin’ dey ain’t … why, dat’s de gospel truth. What you dream a’bout doin’ in life — whatever ’tis dat excites yo de most — eben if hit won’t make you rich, powerful, or famous, do hit anyway ’cause it will brang you de real wealth in life: inward joy.
“And what Miss Lena told you ’bout being kind … well dat’s like buildin’ up a big savings account, de only diffunce bein’ you is depositin’ kindness, not money. If you keep fillin’ dat account … as yo’ mama said, what goes ’round comes ’round. Just when you need kindness de most, hit’ll come to you. De Lawd’ll see to dat.”
Emerson, Mama, and Jaybird were right on all counts: Men are what their mothers made them.
Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.
Other books by Jimmy Reed include The Jaybird Tales.
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