Winning Words 12/14/12
“Silence is foolish if we are wise, but wise if we are foolish.”  (Charles Caleb Colton)  Bill Cosby said, “When I was a kid I thought my name was ‘Sit down and be quiet.’”  On the other hand, Marlo Thomas recalls lively and funny conversations in the home when she was growing up.  George Burns and Bob Hope were regular visitors.  What was it like for you?  We tend to become like what we experienced in the home.    ;-)  Jack

  FROM WALMART REV:  "It's time for church!" ////FROM JACK:  My first recollection was Sunday School.////REV:  My father had an consecutive eighteen year SS pin for perfect attendance... We would miss the church service and attend SS on vacation at times. Mom stayed home with us when sick.////JACK:  I can relate to that.  I, too, had a perfect attendance pin...and went to "strange" Sunday Schools on vacations.

 FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  I like the quote, but I'm pretty sure you already know that. The foolish can't know they're foolish, or they'd be wise. There are many options regularly available for being foolish, but maybe just one for being wise. As children, we were encouraged to think about the "whole" -- what precedes and what will likely follow. A situation or concept requires a context to understand it. If only those in government (and others in authority) were so inclined.////FROM JACK:  My concepts of  "right and wrong" came from the home...and from the Church, too.

  FROM HY YO SILVER:  Clever.  I think I talk too much!////FROM JACK:  You never talk "too" much when you have something worth saying.

 FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  In our home, we would sit around the kitchen table after dinner, Dad would sit with his leg resting on a corner of the table--sounds strange but he was really relaxed that way--and we would be talking--6 kids and Mom and Dad--about is there really a God and so forth. Boisterous and all really involved and being sincere and all in our discussions. When we left the house and went out among people, we were very quiet and well-behaved. But eventually I had to start talking in church too in order to be myself outside too. That was really a tremendous discovery--you can actually ask if there is a God in church!!!!! and not be so fearful there. Sounds foolish but it is wise.////FROM JACK:  It really is true...that we are what we have experienced in our home.  Thanks for affirming this.

 FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  We were taught to listen when adults talked and especially when visiting or others were visiting.  My father worked in sales and traveled. Many many times he would bring home another saleman, a vice president or even a president of the company where he delivered coffee.  We always had dinner together but were told before dinner "Don't take the meat".  My parents never had a lot of money so we always let the visitors have the first go at the food, then us.  We were always welcomed into the conversation.  My parents raised us up correctly.  Because we always had visitors, our house was full of laughter from their stories.  Once my dad  brought home a World War II vet who was in prison camp for years in Japan.  He had had bamboo shoots shoved up his fingers...none of his joints worked anymore.  We would listen to him for hours.////FROM JACK:  I can't remember that we had many visitors at the dinner table...mostly family.  A former POW certainly would make an impression.

 FROM TRIHARDER:  I would suggest that more people get in trouble for what they say versus what they don't say. "Happy Anniversary" and "I love you", may be a distinct exception.////FROM JACK:  "G-d bless you" is another...and not just when someone sneezes.

 FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER:  Once entered a contest in New York City for anti horn-honking bumper sticker. "Silence is golden. Let's get rich." Didn't win but got honorable mention.////FROM JACK:  If that bumper sticker didn't make you rich, how did you accumulate your wealth?

 FROM DREX:  a real treasure////FROM JACK:  Where your heart is, there is your treasure, also.

FROM MOLINER JT:  My home life was fantastic. If I could only be a small part of what my folks were. I was adopted, but no one ever showed it.////FROM JACK:  We knew that you were adopted, but so what?  We at Trinity liked the Teskes.  I remember being invited with the Luther League into your farm home on John Deere Road.  What was it called in those days?

 FROM ILLINOIS LIZ:  freedom of thought, speech. lively discussions of politics, current events. good tv, art, music. parents well-read.////FROM JACK:  That sounds like a good learning situation.

 FROM IKE AT THE MIC:  I was very lucky because my father always  encouraged  me to say whatever I had on my mind  & it has served me well..he wa the ultimate diplomat ..
When I said something that was really bizzare he would say: "Don't make yourself sound foolish" but never called ME foolish..I try to practice that same strategy..////FROM JACK:  Your father was like the guru on the mountaintop...a wise old man.