We have struggled with math facts + oldest daughter = memorized. She just isn’t committed to putting these things into memory. We are now into multiplication after struggling through addition and subtraction. Boy, if she doesn’t get this, she’ll be destroyed when they start in with division – not to mention fractions! and then there’s negatives . . .oh brother!
One night while helping her, I found myself exclaiming 6 and 2 is 8! This is not the expression you may think. You see, when my dad smashed his thumb with a hammer or came home with the wrong fitting for the pipe, instead of using some profane expletive, “six and two is eight” was his phrase of choice. We never knew why. We assumed it was because it had been hard for him to learn this particular fact in school. It seems so random.
Oh, six and two is eight!
I’ve never understood the draw of using four letter words. I mean, aren’t I educated? Can’t I come up with more creative ways to express myself. There is just something damaging to the spirit when profanity is used. When I was in high school I took to heart Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.” But this goes way beyond 4 letter words. This drives straight to why we say what we say. What’s going on in my mind and heart to form what’s coming out of my mouth. Oh for goodness’ sake! I do not like what I see inside this heart of mine!! For crying out loud! I’ve got to do something about this. Thank the Lord for the grace and help we need.
Now – to wrap up my dad’s story. One afternoon we were sitting in the living room and someone said “oh, six and two is eight”. Only to hear my grandma say “and a farts a fraction”. what?! So that’s where he heard it. From his mom!!! Apparently, those Vandenbelts were regular cut ups!!
No comments:
Post a Comment