We Met Professor Wisdom in the School of Hard Knocks!

I head to the shopping mall just around the corner and this 1964 Chevrolet Impala passes by me and parks close to my car. Though it sure needed a paint job, a flood of memories overtakes me. I tell the young couple a short-version of our story. I ask “Is this one a stick shift?” He replies “Yes, it is – a 3-speed!” More memories came then. BTW – there were no seat belts like these back then.

My boyfriend then, later my husband, saved up his money from working two jobs to buy his dream-come-true car. Well, it wasn’t exactly the one he wanted which would have been the Super Sport 2-door model, but the one he could afford was the 4-door, black interior, 3-speed stick shift like the one pictured here. I told the couple that I had learned to drive a stick shift while sitting in his lap. Actually, I have memories of almost sending us through the windshield from trying to shift from neutral to first to second to third and almost stripping the gears. Eventually, I got it down. And, notice the seats – they weren’t bucket seats. They were full across from door-to-door seats…..where I could snuggle in as close as possible to him. That is the way we were!

I’m smiling big as I type this. Oh, if that car could have talked about those two youngsters who spent way too much time in that car…..at Love Field Airport, watching the planes fly in late at night and watching the stars shine brightly from Kiest Park in South Dallas. Sure, that’s what we were doing…just spending time watching what was going on outside that car! I pause here to remember that young love we shared. Suddenly, I’m singing “Memories…..light the corners of my mind; misty water, colored memories; for the way we were

I'll never forget how smart my husband and I thought we were starting out in life -- so very young and inexperienced. His dad tried to counsel us and offer his sound advice and wisdom to us. But, no, we had to do things "our way" -- which we thought was the much "better way". Oh, how much time, effort, and money we could have saved ourselves had we heeded his wisdom. Oh, no! We just had to go to the School of Hard Knocks. Two years before we married in 1966, against his dad's recommendations for an automatic, Ron was determined to get that standard shift car -- and it just HAD to be a 1964 Chevy Impala. If only we had listened to Dad and his wisdom. And, we learned the "hard knocks" way in so many other ventures.

Many of us are still in the School of Hard Knocks, and we're still diligently pursuing that place of success and prosperity. I assure you -- we'll get to graduate, sooner rather than later, if we'll listen to, and apply, Professor Wisdom's words that are found in the Book of Proverbs. We'll find in her "Wisdom Class" that wisdom doesn’t come automatically. Rather, it’s tested and proven in day-to-day life.

Professor Wisdom or “Lady Wisdom” is a teacher who is more concerned about teaching us valuable lessons, and less concerned about being our friend. She teaches us that the way of wisdom is not always an easy road, but she does promise that if we hang in there, and keep heeding her advice, we'll get to a blessed life. Proverbs 4:5-7 “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of HER mouth. Forsake HER not, and SHE shall preserve you: LOVE HER, and SHE shall keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting -- get understanding.” Let's heed Professor Wisdom's advice, as well as to those brilliant and successful sages that have paved the way for us -- it is sure worth the investment!

An Honest Day’s Pay for an Honest Day’s Work

Yesterday I remembered this quote after I saw two men that my son hired to help us. They moved heavy furniture from one room to another; they tore down boxes; they carried heavy boxes up to the attic; and they repositioned heavy rocks that had fallen. My son hired them at a “standard” spot, Home Depot parking lot in East Austin. It’s known as “the spot” to find men who desire an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. And, work these two men did. We accomplished so much with their help. They desperately wanted and needed to work and it felt so good to know we were able to be a blessing to him, while he was being a blessing to us.

I picked up my 11-year old grandson from school and he asked about our day and I told him about the men. We talked about how some folks stand on a street corner and they hold up a sign that says “Please help me” or “Please give me anything”, but not too often do we see them saying “Please let me help you" or "Please give me work.” I'm not judging them because I know every person has their own set of circumstances, but isn’t it encouraging to see someone who is willing to work and do whatever it takes to make a living?

God was the first worker and He sure did a good job in showing us what a meaningful day of work was all about. He “worked” for six days creating the world until He chose to rest and appreciate what He had accomplished. God’s example is “an honest day’s work”.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 says "If anyone doesn't want to work, he shouldn't eat." The Proverbs are filled with warnings to the lazy. Laziness is a major headache to employers, and more importantly, it must displease God. For example, Proverbs 6:10-11 “"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."

When my husband and I first married (at ages 17 & 18), I worked as a file clerk making $1.25 an hour. I was so happy at the end of the week when I was able to contribute to our budget. And my sweetheart was not only attending college, but he had a full time job, and on top of it, we were able to bring in a little more income by cleaning the church his dad pastored. Not a showy job to brag about except we did say “We’re getting to clean the porcelain thrones (the toilets)!” We would remember the scripture that said in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

I want to be on the side of pleasing God in everything I do – especially when I have the opportunity to be a “chip off God's block” -- work hard, and then sit back and be appreciative for the ability He gave me, as well as what that work produced.