"Nothing ever becomes real until it is experienced. Even a proverb is no proverb to you till your life has illustrated it.” John KeatsMy dad used to say, “The more you know the more you realize how much you have to learn.” At the time I was young and thought I knew everything. Later it made sense when I began to experience my own ignorance.
Do these, and other quotes or proverbs you come across, resonate with your life? Can you think of some life lessons that have brought to light the meaning of a proverb for you? What is one action you can do today that can help you apply what you’re learning? Lord, thank You for being the source of all wisdom found in quotes and Proverbs; help me continue on my journey to discover and learn from the wisdom and experience of others. Amen
Note: John Keats (1795-1821), an English Romantic poet, one of the main figures of the second generation of Romantic poets along with Lord Byron and Shelley. His poems were not generally well received by critics during his lifetime, yet his reputation grew after his death and now Keats is one of the most beloved of all English poets, having influenced many 19th century poets and writers.
Note: My dad, Dayton George Kearney (1925-1983), you wouldn’t know him, but I will always remember him in part as the person I most often quote—the one who invested so many proverbs in me.
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"Give yourself the same compassion you extend to others.” Bonnie Raitt “I don’t have a right side to my brain,” was my standard excuse for not trying to sing, paint, play an instrument or engage in any other form of creative expression. Yet when in school I sang in a choir, danced in a school play and played the clarinet, but I didn’t think I was any good so I never pursued any of them. Last year, however, I took out-of-town friends to Tahoe where we wandered past a shop that taught painting lessons. The next class was about to begin. “Come on Aunt Libby, it’ll be fun,” Lynn encouraged. So I did. Since high school I heard right-brained painters are likely to paint impressionist or modern art, but there are left-brained painters. They would likely paint portraits or images that resemble photographs. So it was no surprise when three hours later I emerged with a canvas that looked very much like the instructor’s example, while others in class took creative liberty with the colors of the sunset and shapes of trees. This canvas might never hang in my living room, but it still hangs in my closet as a reminder that I can paint. Somewhere deep inside me I do have a creative bone in my body. More importantly, it reminds me that I can encourage myself, cut myself some slack, and branch out to try things I enjoy whether I do it perfectly, or not. Do you extend compassion and encouragement to children as they attempt new things? Have you lacked the encouragement from others in the past to try new things? Now that you know you can give yourself the same compassion and encouragement you give others, what new thing will you try today?
What are your thoughts? Libby Note: Bonnie Lynn Raitt (1949- ), an American blues singer-songwriter, musician who incorporates elements of blues, rock, folk and country in her many hit albums; she has received ten Grammy Awards, is number 50 in Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time,” and is 89 on their list of “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” Note: Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835–1910), better known by his pen name Mark Twain, an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer, known for his novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Great American Novel.
“Good things as well as bad are caught by a kind of infection. If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire… If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them.” C.S. LewisIn that place between sleep and awake I think, What day is it? When it dawns on me it’s Monday I moan, “Another six days.” I look forward to being around those who always seemed to be happy, even when life is hard. It seemed they have something I don’t have. Not sure what it is, but I know that I want some of it.
One Sunday the new girl in the Singles Class said to me, “Sunday is my favorite day of the week.” I agreed but was curious to learn if she felt the same. She said, “You guys are all so fun and encouraging.” She included me in that comment. Had I become fun and encouraging? Had the peace and serenity from the others rubbed off on me? It reminded me of the old adage around choosing a tennis partner who’s better than you, because they challenge you to be a better player. Had I become a better person by hanging around positive fun-loving people? Apparently.
Note: C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British novelist, poet, academic, literary critic, lay theologian, lecturer and Christian apologist. He held academic positions at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities (1925-63). Although most all of his published works (in four genres) are still in print, he is best known for The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Space Trilogy, Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain. "We lop away that bearing boughs may live.” Shakespeare When I was a child I thought dogs were daddies and cats were mommies. Then a dog on our street had puppies. When I was 15 I thought my friends were enlightened and my parents knew nothing. Then I grew up. In my 20’s I criticized management, “They make their decisions from some conference room, but they know nothing about the real work we do.” Then I was promoted to supervisor. Before I knew God I called religion “a crutch” for those who couldn’t handle life on their own. Then I met Jesus. William Blake once said, “The man who never changes his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.”
How many of my old ideas are in need of pruning? (“I can’t…,” “I’m not good enough…”) Which of my former opinions have grown stagnant? (“I had a difficult childhood…,” “I’m too old to change now…”) Do you have old ideas that have outlived their usefulness? Are you ready to ‘lop off’ the dead wood and replace your opinions with ones that bring about new growth? What will you do to formulate new ideas and opinions? Lord, thank You for challenging my stale ideas and misplaced opinions; help me replace them with the fresh truth from Your word that inspires growth. Amen Note: Shakespeare (1564-1616), an English playwright, poet and actor; widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist…often called England’s national poet and the “Bard of Avon.” His works include 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and two long narrative poems.
Note: William Blake (1757-1827), an English poet, painter and printmaker largely unrecognized during his life, yet now is considered a seminal figure in the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. His prophetic works were said to form “what is in proportion to its merits, the least read body of poetry in the English language.” Some of his best known works are Milton, Jerusalem and Songs of Innocence and of Experience. |
WelcomeI love the wisdom of the ages gleaned from relevant quotes. In them there is a connection to the human experience that crosses all borders. Join me as I relate my personal experiences, and link the wisdom of the quote to the Source of all wisdom: God's Word, the Bible. Enjoy, Libby Categories
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