Burying the Hatchet

A phrase my father used in this family story was "bury the hatchet." According to the Cambridge Idioms Dictionary, the origin of this phrase traces to a Native American peace ceremony that literally involved burying a hatchet, a weapon of war.

 The Neighbor, His Brother, and Edmund Gates, Sr.
As told by Edmund Gates, Jr. to Bernadean J. Gates

              In the early 1920s, a neighbor hit Grandpa Black over some small disagreement at the Black home on what is now the Travis Anson place. This neighbor hit Grandpa Bob Black in the head with a club “addling” him and bloodying his nose. As a result, Edmund, Sr., my father, was “laying” for the neighbor, wanting to get even.
             About a year later, when I was around four years old, I was in the wagon with my father. Papa was bringing a load of corn out of the bottom from the Dyer Place’s triangular field. He had been shucking corn all day. I was with him because I always liked to go with Papa even though I was too young to work. We were getting ready to go home through a gate that opened onto the main road. Suddenly, out stepped the brother of the neighbor who had struck Grandpa Black. He wielded a club in his hand as he stood at the gate refusing to open it. Papa, with one swift motion, reached behind and brought a shotgun down, lowering it on the brother blocking the gate. Papa had the shotgun with him hoping to get a rabbit to take home for Mom to cook. The brother of the neighbor quickly said, “Oh Ed, Oh Ed, Hold it!” and immediately opened the gate. The incident was the talk of the community for a while. Thankfully, that day we decided to call a truce and “bury the
 hatchet.”

Edmund Gates, Sr. and Edmund
Gates, Jr.in the 1950s

             As I prepared this blog post, I purposefully left out the names of the neighbor and his brother since my father and my grandfather put this disagreement behind them over ninety years ago. Revealing the names might “unearth the hatchet” or "take up the hatchet" which incidentally means just the opposite of a peace pact.

           “Burying the hatchet” or “letting bygones be bygones” continues to be a healthy, life-altering choice and is just as relevant today as in yesteryears.  I fInd it interesting that Dad used the pronoun "we" in the final sentence of his account of this happening. Since he was a preschooler, evidently Grandpa conveyed unequivocally to his young son,my dad, that this feud was ended and in the past. What a powerful impact my grandfather's actions, as well as the other two men's responses, had on this impressionable, little boy!
             This Christmas season of giving is the perfect time to consider a mutually agreed upon answer to an ongoing argument or family squabble. The best way to accomplish this begins with requesting prayerfully from the Prince of Peace a heart for resolution, words for soothing the disagreement, an understanding heart from the seeming adversary, and a perfect opportunity to “bury the hatchet.” The forgiveness of past bitterness can be received from the One who brings peace on earth, good will to men. What a wonderful way to honor Him as His miraculous birth is recognized at this season of the year!