The following are fifty sayings that, among many others, have served me through my life, and have helped me, at this editing, to gain over ninety years of life.  My experiences have been many, some intense, even life threatening, but carried along by an optimism that rests in the care of faith in Jesus Christ, Scriptures and the church, supported by common sense and prevailing prayer.  As needed, they increased in number through the years, and continuing in my own collection.

  1. Making mistakes leads to making more mistakes.
  2. Sincere smiles make people smile.
  3. Writing out a thought makes the thought clearer.
  4. Patience, a gift, almost always works.
  5. Unsolicited, distracting thoughts may lead to solutions.
  6. Prayer focusing on God and his love helps settle the spirit of the person at prayer.
  7. It is far better to be a loving person than a person in love.
  8. It is always good to find a model for the issue at hand.
  9. It is possible to overcome bad habits by making friends of persons with good habits.
  10. To be right but humble, wins.
  11. Education does not guarantee maturity.
  12. Reasons are useful, excuses seldom serve well.
  13. Age is no assurance of wisdom.
  14. Skills are always limited.
  15. Friendships should not be broken.
  16. Hope is basically a good vision of the future.
  17. Try to make every place cozy.
  18. Believe in the practice of righteousness.
  19. Tell the truth about lies.
  20. A person believing one should be a good citizen of heaven should be a good citizen on earth.
  21. Each child should be treated as a gift from God.
  22. Prayers of the devout have something to do with building the kingdom of God.
  23. Persons ought to have a satisfactory explanation of the comprehension of beauty.
  24. History is accusative of our prejudices.
  25. Devout persons prove their love for God through their love for, and service to, mankind.
  26. An institution a person should never abdicate is family.
  27. There is more mystery than clarity in life.
  28. Food is saltier or sweeter if one believes it is.
  29. A difficult task is often more easily completed with a friend.
  30. One of every three meals should be a salad.
  31. Bathrooms challenge every other room in the home for preeminence.
  32. Make the bed before leaving the bedroom each morning.
  33. Do not measure the genuineness in others by your own.
  34. Men and women are equal but not the same.
  35. The sooner one is given responsibility, the sooner that person learns how to carry responsibility.
  36. Money management is poorly taught and poorly done.
  37. Something is wrong if one is not contributing to others.
  38. Each person should learn how to play enjoyably a game alone.
  39. Every person should refuse boredom.
  40. Follow divine counsel for life.
  41. The whole book on health and weight is written in one word – moderation.
  42. God wants us to be regular guests in his house.
  43. As often as possible, write an affirmative letter.
  44. Take someone to lunch.
  45. Every day ask for God’s blessing and benediction.
  46. Believe you are going to live to be a hundred years of age.
  47. God is seldom in a hurry.
  48. Ask for help when help is needed.
  49. Trust carries several virtues.
  50. Believe, with all conviction, that Jesus Christ is a special and personal friend.

….An extra couple to fill your basket if you discard any of the above: Give at least as much doubt to your doubts as to your beliefs.  In conduct, if in doubt, don’t.

P.S. – MORE OF THESE SUGGESTIONS APPEAR ON THIS DATE IN FUTURE VOLUMES.  TRY THEM, YOU’LL LIKE THEM.  THEY ARE FREE AND REPAIR SOME FEATURES IN PERSONAL LIFE WHEN USED.  THEY MULTIPLY WHEN SHARED. PERHAPS THERE MAY BE, IN SOME FUTURE CULTURAL CONTEXT, A SLIGHT AMENDMENT TO THIS OR THAT ITEM IN THE LIST.  (It is to be remembered that the original is here dedicated as Lee’s authorized version.) *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020