Many of us spent the Thanksgiving holiday with family—with relatives we knew well, or distant members. Whatever the circumstance, I’m sure we all have some interesting characters who gather around the table.
Our family has grown very small so it’s not as chaotic as it used to be when my grandparents and other extended family attended. I used to love to sit and listen to my grandfathers visit. They were hilarious. That generation developed some of the best sayings or proverbs that taught life lessons. There was no room for whining or being lazy. They held us accountable. I thought it might be fun to peruse quotes from the greatest generation and those born at the beginning of the baby boomers.
• You can get glad in the same pants you got mad in.
• You can choose to have a good day or you can choose to have a bad day.
• Don’t look at me in that tone of voice.
• Were you raised in a barn? Close the door.
• I don’t care if everyone else is doing it; I’m not their mother.
• If you do a job right the first time you won’t have to redo it.
• Let there be one fool instead of two fools. You don’t have to act like others.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
• Nothing good happens after midnight.
• You have to take the bitter with the sweet.
• You made your bed; now you have to sleep in it.
• That crying won’t get you nowhere in life.
• You win some, you lose some, and some get rained out.
Did you recognize any? Whenever I hear them it takes me back to my childhood in my grandparents’ homes at Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Sometimes it’s hard to navigate the holidays as the adult, isn’t it? How many of you would love to return one time to enjoy the season with loved ones who are no longer with us? I’d be thrilled to sit by the tree with no responsibility except opening my presents and filling the glasses with ice. My heart would explode with joy to hear the voices of my grandparents saying corny expressions that I used to roll my eyes at but now appreciate the wisdom in the words.
Not only do we have the insight from the older generation, but we are part of God’s family. He has tons of great directives. What are some of his sayings that resonate and we should remember? The book of Proverbs is full of them. Take a peek at a few from the New Living Translation:
• Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful (16:20).
• Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge (18:15).
• A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence (11: 13).
• A gentle answer turns deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare (15: 1).
• People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart (21: 2).
• Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed (11:25).
• A person without self-control is like a city broken with broken-down walls (15:28).
Such wisdom imbedded in simplicity. Let’s nab one or two to live by this next month.
What about you? Do you have treasured sayings you heard growing up?
