I wish you all could have met my mother. I loved being her daughter.
If you knew Audrey Hart, you would say she was the sweetest lady, but you also knew she was full of strength and determination. If she believed in something, you could not budge her. If she believed in someone, she was their greatest cheerleader, without the cartwheels.
My mother had a quiet voice. She said yelling only causes people to close their ears to what you say. People will become defensive, and you will lose your influence.
She taught me to stand up for myself and others, especially the underdogs. She did not believe popular opinion should make the rules. She said God will nudge you into what you should believe. I learned the hard way that God would sometimes need to shove me. The enemy nudges, too. Let prayer be your go-to when making decisions. You need to discern the nudges.
Photo provided by Jamie Troyer
She believed popularity is not a badge to be proud of. The rules of the majority are not always good. Enough said … for now.
Having a reputation for championing the underdog is being a woman of excellence. Doing the right thing is not always easy or popular – it’s simply right. Doing what you feel is right won’t always get you an invitation to be part of the popular crowd.
There were times when Mom served on a church board and encountered something she felt was wrong. She would say, “I think we need to pray about it.” Ministers have told me they appreciated my mother’s wisdom. Her words were never ugly. She spoke from her heart. She would have made a great attorney or preacher.
She was not afraid to say a wrong was wrong or a right was right. She had gumption. People with gumption are full of courage, strength, and tenacity. THAT was my mom.
Mom was not one to back down from a bully. She would quietly let them know their bullying would not work with her. She never used her middle finger, but she sure could get her point across with her pointer finger.
She had more gumption than most WNBA players except Sophie Cunningham. She would have been cheering for her and bought her daughter the T-shirt. Sophie’s actions in this week’s Indiana Fever/Connecticut Sun basketball game were not about revenge but about having the back of her teammate. It was her declaration of ENOUGH! I have my opinion about the officiating, but I’ll let you guess what I think.
Mom had the back of the women in her church, the people she worked with at O’Malia’s Grocery when she was the deli manager, and her daughter so many times.
As I get older, I am becoming more like my mother. I’m finding my gumption. For many years, I allowed the power of popular voices to sway my opinions or keep me from finding my voice and expressing my opinions. My husband will tell you those days are gone. On a few occasions, he may have laughingly said, “Tell me how you really feel.”
Using my voice and my keyboard to express my opinion is my calling. I hope to advocate for what is right, call a wrong a wrong, and champion for the underdog. The wisdom I have found in life’s detours, the school of hard knocks, and learning things the hard way will continue to be passed on to my readers. My opinions will be given gently and quietly … most of the time. I take this calling as an honor that comes with much responsibility. I sometimes do it with fear and trepidation. Gumption is not easily acquired.
My mother is still influencing me, and I hope she is proud of me. I am proud to be called Audrey’s daughter. And yes, I bought the T-shirt in her honor.
Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). Visit janethartleonard.com.