It was October 31 in the 1950’s, on a chilly fall evening. The occasion, Halloween Night, a safe night to be out back in the old days. Well, at least in our neighborhood. During that era, I had never heard of a Hallelujah Night, or an Octoberfest held at the local churches on the same date as Halloween.
The children in our family were allowed to go out, canvasing from door to door, greeting the persons who lived in the houses we stopped by with an excited “Trick or Treat” greeting out of our already guzzling mouths. So that we would not look like kids, which we really were, Mom and/or Dad would lag a little behind so we would project a message that said, “No adult supervision required.” That was the projected image, but in reality, we were being watched and protected by the oversight of parental eyes, just three to four feet behind us. You will get this in a minute, but I will state this fact now. Mom and Dad were being good stewards of their children.
Here is some background to that October 31st night. There were four children in my family. The oldest wore Dad’s army jacket, appropriate because he would follow in father’s military footsteps later in life. The youngest child, the little brother, dressed as a cowboy. My sister dressed as a grown woman fully clothed in Sunday-Go-To-Church” attire, accessorized with hat, gloves, purse, and real lipstick. She might have even sprayed on some grown-up, Avon perfume. As for me, I went as a ghost after getting permission to use a white twin-size sheet. Now don’t go shaking your head! Remember, I was a child and all I could associate my sheet in my northern city and in my naivety was with a ghost. I’m sure I would have never worn it in the south, for I would have known better. As I was getting my costume together, I came to my Momma and asked if she would cut holes in it so that I could see. She quickly said, “No! You better bring that sheet back in good shape too! Somebody will have to use it next week!” She went on to say, “Let your older brother guide you or I will make sure you avoid tripping hazards or dangerous situations.” Those were “Momma’s Orders.” And guess what? I knew better to not to disobey her commands. There are the Ten Commandments and there are “Momma’s Orders,” and both have to be obeyed.
Eventually, I came to understand that “Momma’s Orders” were not just about the twin sheet, but it was a lesson in stewardship. How so? She wanted to teach me to take care of whatever I was blessed to have, whether the blessed possession be considered small or great! That’s a good lesson for you and me to remember and to react to on this day in 2025. Listen! Whatever the Lord has blessed you with, make sure you are a good steward over your blessing(s), and as Momma would add, no matter if your blessed possession is small our great.
Momma’s lesson with the twin-size sheet goes beyond material possessions. “Momma’s Orders” are applicable in multiple ways. You see even as adults, her orders are applicable to being a good steward with a job, being a good steward of our children, being a good steward in our relationships with others, being a good steward of our bodies, being a good steward of the wisdom God provides us in His word, being good stewards of “The Good News,” and of course being good stewards with our treasures, time, and talents.
Above, reflecting on a childhood day, “Momma’s Orders,” commands that were specifically for me, today, “Momma’s Orders” should be definitely speaking to you. This is a meditation, so ponder on what you just read. One more thing to share, a closing verse that shows the foundation for stewardship, and it also serves as an appropriate, related addendum to the lesson in “Momma’s Orders,” for everything we are blessed with is ultimately God’s. Be blessed!
“The earth and everything on it, including its people, belong to the Lord. The world and its people belong to him.” (Psalm 24:1Contemporary English Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King