Grandma Janet’s sermon

I am both old and old-fashioned. My grandchildren will testify to that.

I may not be in the front row of their lives, but they can hear my voice from the seat behind their parents. I make my presence known in those bleachers.

I am not afraid to have difficult conversations with them. I’ve also been known to add some humor, which makes them roll their eyes.

Recently, 13-year-old Leah heard me say that when shorts are too short, a vagina can catch a cold. I think her look was one of shock and mortification that her Grandma Janet would say something like that. She was probably relieved she wasn’t wearing shorts that were too short. She knew it was Grandma Janet’s way of making a point.

Sixteen-year-old Aiden is the quarterback for his high school football team. He enjoys driving Grandma Janet to Chick-fil-A, where I treat him to a bounty to satisfy a very hungry football player. I pray not only for his meal but also for our safety. Riding with a 16-year-old driver isn’t for the faint of heart.

Aiden and I discuss his responsibility as a team leader.

“Aiden, your actions and words, both on and off the field, reveal your character. How you handle adversity, challenges, and pressure-filled situations shows how mature and responsible you are.”

I always get this sweet smile from him as I keep sharing my thoughts.

“Aiden, there is never an excuse to throw physical or verbal punches at anyone on or off the field. Leadership has its responsibilities.”

I hope my words give him food for thought, just as his sandwich feeds his hunger.

“Aiden, do not use words you would not use if your Grandma Janet were with you. Vulgar, disrespectful, and vile language is never acceptable. NEVER. I don’t care what leadership position you ever hold. Filthy language discredits you and pours manure over your leadership ability.”

By now, Aiden is probably thinking, “Next time I’m hungry, I’ll go to the refrigerator and heat some chicken nuggets.” When he was a kid, he would get a Happy Meal with a toy. Now he gets a sermon with his big boy meal.

“Aiden, when your friends say something inappropriate, do you laugh?”

Silence.

“Aiden, did you know that when you laugh at something inappropriate, you are aiding and abetting their wrongdoing? They should expect civility, respect, and common decency from you, and you from them.”

“Aiden, do you know what an excuse is? It is a justification for wrongdoing. It doesn’t change the fact that it is wrong. Did you hear that, Aiden? Making excuses for wrongdoing is, again, aiding and abetting, which makes you guilty. It also opens up future wrongdoings.

“Laughing and making excuses for wrongdoing is like a misdemeanor sin. The felony sin may be the action, but laughing and excusing any sin is wrong. It’s not easy to call out your friends for inappropriate behavior, but sometimes you have to be brave and say, ENOUGH! Silence puts a stamp of approval on a wrongdoing. Do I need to repeat that, Aiden?”

At this point, I know Aiden thinks he’s getting a sermon with his meal. He’s right. I believe that if the older generation doesn’t keep civility, kindness, respect, and doing the right thing at the forefront of everyday life, we’ll keep moving toward their demise.

We safely arrive back at his home in Tampa. His belly is full, and so are his heart and mind. Grandma Janet always gives him something to think about.

Oh, and I also told him never to tell someone to go to hell. Just tell them they need a knot jerked in their tail. He laughed.

While much of this is an actual account of our trip to Chick-fil-A, I may have taken some poetic license in the remembering of our discussion.

Yes, I am old, and I’m old-fashioned in my thinking, but I think my sermon may need to be preached to other young people … and maybe some older people, too.

Can I get an Amen?

Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). She is the recipient of the Reporter’s Spring 2025 Ink-Stained Wretch award. Visit janethartleonard.com. You can purchase her book “When the Hart Speaks” at amazon.com/dp/B0B1C7QKF6.