Note: This article is an excerpt from a book in progress by Sharon L. Patterson.
From Part 1: For the next several pages, I will take you on a journey of wisdom gathering that is 63 years long. Hopefully, a few years still remain in the front window view. I’ll have to come back in another 10 to add what I have learned. I can’t write about the last age category until I’ve been there a while. The following phrases will be written like I say it although I will not give it my usual embellishment of rhyme. I hope it makes you smile, causes a new wrinle on your brain (maybe even two or three), and encourages you to take what you have learned and apply your heart to get one of the greatest gifts of this life … WISDOM. It is a gift that always has more to unwrap, nothing to throw away, and loads to share with everyone else. On that last thought, it is best to wait until it is asked for. I highly recommend it to soap-box sermonizing!
Continuing…
It is one thing to get free and quite another to stay free.
It is better to be a peacemaker than a peacekeeper: the first is freedom, the second, slavery.
Give me joy over happiness: happiness is the hare in life’s race; joy is the turtle.
Love is a choice with a foot to it.
I’d rather be pliable than plastic.
Promises given are a dime a dozen; promises kept are priceless.
Say “yes” and mean it. Do the same with “no”.
Strength comes more often when I share my weaknesses, not when I try to hide them.
The best place to choose a positive is when you are sitting in a pile of negatives.
Love won is worth the price; love lost is also worth the cost.
I have gained wisdom and that is not bragging. Her journey is hard; her streets narrow, her tests not easily passed. By God’s grace, her goals are reachable and of inestimable worth.
If you would find wisdom, walk in well established footsteps of godly people.
Love like you mean it; live like you love it; die with your life meter on “full.”
Don’t let your dreams droop too much; put purpose to your present, and reach for consistency in all your ways.
Some days, it really is ok to wash everything in one load.
If there is time to do so, reason before you react. On second thought, PRAY before you do anything!
Too much? Too little? PRAY! Too little becomes enough when given to God. Too much is reduced to a palatable size when given to God.
Back up what you say by what you do and you won’t have to back up so often.
Need a little humility? Clean your own toilet.
Doing what is right should be expected, not exceptional.
I do not consider wealth in terms of finances maintained alone but in terms of friendships multiplied.
Most of the time, human nature is pretty predictable—not necessarily trustworthy, but predictable. Highly regard the percent that is both predictable and trustworthy.
My great wisdom on a good restaurant? Read the dessert menu first! If there is no chocolate, leave immediately!
We wanted to communicate more … so we made gadgets to expand our capacity to do that. Now we need to lay those down and get back to plain old face to face conversation.
My favorite advice on communication: Face to face not face in Facebook!
Want to stay young? Buy into present style, find an age appropriate rendition, and then, get it—in the right size!
Duh! … You will always look “bigger” in “too small!”
If you choose “natural” in the “older” category, you’ll look it. You can’t readily guess the age of an old barn that’s been firmed up with a few new boards in saggy places and has a new coat of paint. People won’t be so quick to drive by without noticing you.
You do not have to sit in first class to be first class.
Lord, teach me to tune in to the significant and tune out the needless.
Intimidation is particularly difficult when it is personified! It is next to impossible if deified.
Wisdom—don’t leave home without it. Momma didn’t give it without expected returns. Neither did God. That’s where Momma got it.
God really does give mothers eyes in the back of their heads. It comes from prayer on their knees!
God alone fixes broken trusters.
It is tough to cry alone: it is sadder to laugh all by yourself.
The best way to end a heated discussion … look for the humorous moment and let the belly-laugh roll! Stops the escalation every time.
Honesty spoken with a right heart is better than any flattery no matter what the motive.
Speaking a lie loud enough and long enough may wear down the unaware into believing it is truth, but to those who are aware, it is still a lie.
The greatest gift to a healing soul is the truth spoken in love. The greatest weapon is the truth spoken in hatefulness.
Good politics is still spelled with i-n-t-e-g-r-i-t-y!
If we would heed “shhhhhhhhhh!” there would be no need to be told to “shut up!”
To be a good mother-in-law, leave your son in his wife’s hands. You might gain not only her respect, but her relationship as well.
Water the seed, don’t drown it!
One thing I love about God: whether or not I believe in Him does not change the fact that He is God.
Realize your potential by investing in someone else’s.
God knows how much we need do-overs. He sent us His own personal do-over for all humanity … His Son Jesus. That’s why we have mercies (do-over’s) that are new every morning!
Begin at the beginning and stay until the finish—a great combination for success.
The most incredible beauty is God made, not man made. We just get to copy the Master.
I have found a better view of beauty lies inside than outside.
If we would ask to see others as God sees them, we would gain the right perspective on truth and mercy as well as how to apply which one when.
Reward always follows a job well done, it never precedes it.
Children are part of the family, not the center of the family. That place belongs to God. They will find their place if you keep God in His.
If you would be brave and courageous, parent your children as God designs. Then, you will raise brave and courageous men and women who love you, respect others and honor God.
Talent is admirable; character is off the charts!
True transparency is the center of intimacy.
Living well is not easy living.
Talking when we should be listening will weed out even the best of friends. Honor big ears and small mouths!
We all have our ideas on how to do things … but instructions really do work well, especially late on Christmas Eve or when the GPS is wrong!
I know a lot of really intelligent people with unique opinions, but I only trust the advice a few wise friends.
Show me your religion by what you say, but I will follow the faith of what I see you doing.
On marriage: Who you belong to reflects, in part, what you think of yourself.
Kicking in far surpasses kicking off.
If I am struggling with my creativity, I talk to the Creator.
I am not passive about much of anything, but I pursue patience.
Beauty will fade or eventually get age spots!
Suffering is going to happen: When I have a choice, I prefer suffering for doing right rather than suffering for doing wrong.
The heart that nurses a wrong will never be doctored to health until it has been divinely operated on by forgiveness.
The door to good relationships is hinged with patience and forgiveness.
(More to follow in months ahead…)
Copyright © by Sharon L. Patterson | 1 comment
