Monday, August 22, 2011

43 Lessons I’ve Learned in 43 Years

On Sunday I celebrated my 43rd birthday. By chance if I had forgotten my age, my daughter reminded me with a wonderful homemade card with a big 43. But I think I’m going to claim my Wii fitness test age of 35. That was a pretty good year. I am thankful to God for allowing me to celebrate another birthday. As I get older, I find birthdays as a time of not only celebration but also reflection and contemplation. In thinking about my four decades and three years on this earth, I thought about some of the important life lessons I have learned.

So I wanted to share some of those thoughts. These thoughts, lessons, truths and sayings are not necessarily in order of importance or in the order learned. This list is also not comprehensive, but just 43 that come to my mind at this time based on my 43rd birthday. They are things that have been learned by observation, experience and listening to the wisdom of others (sources noted in parentheses). Although they are lessons learned, truths taken to heart and ideas that I live by, I’m still striving to live and walk in the truth of them every day. Step by step. Day by day. Year by year.

What are some of the lessons you’ve learned and truths that you know? What have the years taught you? Here are some of mine.

1. God is real.

2. God is faithful.

3. Change is a constant.

4. People are more important than things.

5. God’s Word is true.

6. You can’t go wrong when you do right.

7. Sometimes doing the right thing won’t feel good or have immediate rewards.

8. Our greatest riches are in our relationships.

9. My success and significance is in Christ.

10. I don’t have to compare or compete—I am complete in Christ.

11. Money can’t buy the most important things in life—love, peace, health.

12. Making memories is more important than making money.

13. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

14. You can’t argue with excellence.(John W. Fountain)

15. You have to learn to live with people because you have to live with them for the rest of your life. (Rev. William H. Copeland Jr.)

16. When folks are jealous of you, don’t get mad. Get glad. You’ve got something they wish they had. (Rev. William H. Copeland Jr.)

17. A little encouragement can go a long way.

18. Babies grow up too fast.

19. Stop and smell the roses.

20. Before you speak, ask: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?

21. Laugh. It’s good for your soul and health.

22. The quickest way to get out of a pit of despair is a ladder of praise.

23. Worship costs something.

24. You reap what you sow--good and bad.

25. Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.

26. You should listen more than you talk.

27. Life and death are in the power of the tongue.

28. Living a righteous life is rewarding. Smoking, alcohol abuse, overeating, not exercising, promiscuity, foolishness, etc. takes years off your life and makes life harder. God’s Word and warnings are to help us, not harm us.

29. Prayer and praise, worship and the Word of God are essential.

30. If you want to soar with eagles you can’t hang out with turkeys.

31. People are fickle.

32. You are what you eat—physically, spiritually and emotionally.

33. Sometimes you have to encourage yourself.

34. Attack ideas. Not people.

35. I am who God says I am.

36. Fear paralyzes. It can deter and derail dreams and eventually cause death.

37. It is what it is.

38. Your attitude determines your altitude. (Rev. William H. Copeland Jr.)

39. Bitterness is poison. It robs you of life. Forgiveness frees you.

40. Knowledge is power.

41. Love is not just a feeling; it’s an action.

42. God loves me.

43. God and family are the top priority.

1 comment:

berneita barnes said...

I enjoyed your lessons learned. Sometimes as we progress through a days journey we get caught up in our thoughts and outside environment and forget wha's most important. I've learned those things as well as the fact that family will leave you-God won't, family will judge you-God won't and family will try to bring you down when God is elevating you. As you can guess I am dealing with family issues and learning how to laugh and keep walking. This after 55 years.

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