Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday March 6, 2008

I thank the Lord for my little wife of these many years. She is one smart cookie and sometimes she is so right I could scream. Take the last few days for instance.

Several weeks ago I practiced what I have been taught and what I have taught. I delegated a time sensitive project to good man, and we agreed on the men he was to select to help him carry out the project. Several weeks past and right at the critical time it became apparent the task had not been carried out. I managed to keep my cool publicly which is a monumental feat for me, but I sure raised the roof privately. In other words I humbly shared my rage with the girl of my dreams in the long ago.

Joyce just nodded and said yes, okay, it will work out dear. Finally when her cup was full she said, "this is idiotic and do you know why I think it is idiotic?" I said, "Of course it is idiotic because my wishes were not carried out, or at least a reason was not given to me." She said, "Well, Larry the time line does suggest idiocy, but I know you are overlooking a very important lack of action on the main idiot's part." I said, "Hon, I am glad that you are at last coming around and seeing this thing for the enormous lapse that it really is when loss of time and momentum is factored in to the equation." She said, "Larry, your choice of a man to lead the project was an excellent one. The biggest idiot is the one who failed to execute the Second Law of Effective Delegation. Do you recall the Second Law of Effective Delegation? If you do, would you repeat it to me now." She said the last line with just a hint of a smirk. You have not lived until you are the target of this smirk from the Great Blonde. I prayed for Jesus to come again, and fast. If you know the Second Law of Effective Delegation you understand why I wanted to get away. Here, in our own house I, much like a naughty school child, a role in which I have much experience I might add, was forced to repeat a law writ in granite, and in so doing face with a full measure of humiliation the rough fact that I, Larry the Humbled was beyond any shadow of doubt the major idiot.

The First Law of Effective Delegation, found in the Bible and all good course manuals in simple delegating tasks, in the Bible it is delegating the teaching others to a capable faithful person. This I did with elan. It pains me to write the second. But here goes, The Second Law of Effective Delegation states the delegator must follow up and communicate with the delegatee with even a question as simple as, "How is the task coming along?" I want to ask all the gurus who run around the country telling everyone how to be happy though married, how would you deal with a smarty pants blonde of this caliber? I think I know how the male puppies felt when they came back from the vet after a special visit.

For many years I have secretly believed that teaching women to read was a serious mistake. I am now certain of this. If my lovely Great Blonde had spent these many years watching soap operas and TV preachers I would not have been subjected to this self examination and admission that I blew it, yet again. Whoever said that confession is good for the soul, must have been a smart woman who helped the Lord to keep her man in line. By the way, you do NOT have to send this note to Joyce.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit

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