Living the Clean, Clean Life

Living the Clean, Clean Life
By Oseola McCarty

Going all over the country, everywhere free, it surprised me, it really did, all the fuss about me giving my money away. I wasn’t expecting that. People all thought it was great, the way I gave that much to the university for the children’s education. I didn’t know nothing else. I didn’t have any brothers and sisters. I was just one child. I wanted to do for the other children.

Some people say I am a hero. No, I am just a plain, common, ordinary person, I don’t want to be on a pedestal.

I didn’t get an education. I went to work. People complain they have too much work to do, they don’t have enough time. I like to work. It’s company for you. And besides that, it gives you independence. You won’t have to depend on other people so much; you can do for yourself. It’s just good, that’s all I can say. You won’t be looking for nobody else to do something for you. You just do it yourself. It makes me feel good about myself.

There are a lot of different ways to live your life. For me, living a good life is living a clean, clean, pure life. I believe in living a Christian life, not too rushed, neither too slow. Where I got my values, I can’t explain all of that. My family’s dead now, but in my family we all tried to be loving to each other. Peaceful, quiet. My grandmother was sweet to me. But my mother taught me the difference between right and wrong. She would spank me if I did something wrong; yes, she would. Well, I tried to be good! I did the best I could.

The lessons I learned from my mother and my aunt were go to church and share the Lord the best I can. Treat everybody the way I want them to treat me. People would be happier if they treated other people the way they wanted to be treated. They sure would. It would be a better world than it is now.

Some complain about what’s wrong with the world and blame other people. You need to look at yourself first. You need to change your own ways first. That way you know you are making a difference in at least one life. If everybody did that, we would be all right.

The world is different now. People live faster than they used to, and they are learning more. Getting weaker and wiser. Every generation gets weaker and wiser. You leave off a lot of things you should do and do what you should not do. When you get wiser, why, things you didn’t know, you know them now.

The difference is in the people. Some people live fast lives; some live a common life. Our flesh is weak. And we can’t go around that and can’t go over it and can’t go under it. We have to go straight on through with the Lord. Lord in front and you follow. I’ve tried to lead a clean, Christian life. I love the Christian life. I did the best I could.

Ever since I’ve been big enough, I’ve gone to work. At first, they had to stand me up on a box. Washing and ironing. Working, working, working all I can. That makes you feel good.

Work is a blessing. It is a consolation to you. And you can work when you’re old. Being old doesn’t mean you can’t work, although I can’t work the way I used to. I had a lot of sickness. I am righthanded, and I just used that one hand for everything I did. Everything I went to do, why, that right hand would have to do it for me. So that makes the difference. I want to work, but I can’t, because of the arthritis, so I’m retired.

All my traveling helped me in a way. I saw a lot of things I would have never seen. I saw water I have never seen. I saw beautiful flowers. I saw oranges and grapefruit on the trees. Lemons. But I didn’t learn anything new from the new people I met. No, I sure didn’t.

Tell you the truth, some people expect too much of the other person. They should do some things for themselves. Some people don’t want to do nothing but just sit down. Of course, I had to sit down because of the arthritis! I would tell other people to work, feel independent, don’t depend on other people to do so much for you. Do for yourself. You’ve got to take care of yourself. That’s the way I feel. It would help other people if they felt like that. That’s my belief. Whatever you’ve got to do, just go on and do it.

You’ve got to plan for the future. You can’t rely on other people or the government too much. You have to take responsibility for yourself. If you want to feel proud, you’ve got to do things you can be proud of. You can’t get something for nothing. I know some people try.

Everybody should save money because it’s so much help to you. You won’t have to depend on nobody but yourself. You can meet 11 ‘,your bills, spend some, save some. And keep on and on.

I don’t like to waste nothing. Use it up until it wears out. I had some help in saving my money. I got clothes from the people I worked for. I only paid for groceries and some little things. But I was happy with what I had. It never bothered me that other folks had more. You can’t live other people’s lives. You have to live your own life. However it is. Why, if it’s good or it’s bad or it’s just ordinary, you have to live that life to suit yourself. That’s the way I feel.

Save some, spend some, and give some to other people. It’s better give than to receive. I got everything I thought I wanted. Washing and ironing was the way for me to make my living. I didn’t mind that I didn’t have an education. I am proud that I worked hard and my money will help children who have also worked hard. I want to leave something positive for the world.

I think getting an education is the way for people to go if they can. That’s God’s best for us. I gave my money to the school because you got to work and make your money to live, but if you get a good education, why, in place of working for a small amount of money, you go ahead and make big money. Then you can spend some of it, save some of it, and enjoy some of it-and give some of it. That’s where money comes in handy for everybody.