I’ve Learned

Good day to each of you reading this column on a very familiar subject.
Before we get into the column, I came across the following for your amusement:

What I have learned —

Age 5 — I’ve learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing “Silent Night”.
Age 7 — I’ve learned that our dog doesn’t want to eat my broccoli either.
Age 9 — I’ve learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop whatever they are doing and wave back.
Age 12 — I’ve learned than when I get my room the way I like it, my Mom make me clean it up again.
Age 14 — I’ve learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up.
Age 16 — I’ve learned that although it’s hard to admit it, I’m secretly glad my parents are strict with me.
Age 23 — I’ve learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice.
Age 25 — I’ve learned that brushing my child’s hair is one of life’s greatest pleasures.
Age 29 — I’ve learned that wherever I go, the world’s worst drivers have followed me there.
Age 30 — I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.
Age 41 — I’ve learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don’t know how to show it.
Age 44 — I’ve learned that you can make some one’s day by simply sending them a little note.
Age 46 — I’ve learned that the greater a person’s sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others.
Age 47 — I’ve learned that children and grandparents are natural allies.
Age 48 — I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
Age 49 — I’ve learned that “Amazing Grace” can lift my spirits for hours.
Age 51 — I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
Age 53 — I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die.
Age 56 — I’ve learned that making a living is not the same as making a life.
Age 60 — I’ve learned that sometimes life gives you a second chance.
Age 63 — I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to throw something back.
Age 65 — I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision.
Age 72 — I’ve learned that everyone can use a prayer.
Age 80 — I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.
Age 90 — I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch-holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
Age 92 — I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I hate when Walmart doesn’t have what I need and I have to go home, change out of my pajamas, and take a shower so I can go to Target.
What have I learned? Humor is wonderful and that’s why I treasure old humor, folks who can tell clean jokes, make you laugh and provide sunshine in your day.
What have I learned? Remember when we could laugh and yet there was a story or lesson behind it and we followed it each week. A time of innocence and a lesson of life regardless of age.
If you were to ask me what I have learned? I have learned that “wrong is right and right is wrong and that our country is doing a wonderful job of appeasing the minority and the majority is quiet as “church mice”.

If you were to ask me what I have learned? Learning is taking the time to listen and pondering on the words given to you from those who are older and wiser.
When reading the Proverbs or Ecclesiastes, you will see the wisdom of Solomon and how God took a man and molded him into a “learned man” for each of us to follow.
Do you consider yourself “a learned person?” Do other consider you “a learned person?”

So, where does learning begin? Turn to John 6:45 (NIV) It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
Jesus is stressing the importance of not just hearing but taking it one step closer by learning and putting what you have learned to practice in your daily life.
Here is something else to ponder—Philippians 4:9 (NIV) Paul says, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Draw closer to God by learning what God is saying and He will be with you.

In closing, please turn to 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NIV) But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I have learned that the holy scriptures are God-breathed and that I want to be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Ask yourself, what have you learned?

May you Bless God in all that you say and all that you do.

Jeff