Preserve the “Old Sayings” in Your Family

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Preserve the “Old Sayings” in Your Family

Do you remember the old adages used most often by members of
your family? Were there any that really
struck home that should not be forgotten?
Record these old sayings and tell the stories of how they were used and
where they came from.

My family had a knack for answering my questions about life
with adages. At the time, it seemed
comical to me, but they have been for me pearls of wisdom. I believe that when they recited them to me, the
very circumstances came to mind which caused the sayings to be etched into
their memory banks.

I do wish that I had been wise enough during those times to
ask the right questions. I am sure I
would have learned more about them personally.

I can still hear the sayings my father used to teach me
certain principles:

Use your head, for more than a hat rack! – My father used this one to teach me to
think analytically.
What goes around comes around – Dad would say
this to teach the importance of treating people fairly. He would not retaliate when people treated
him unkindly.
A winner never quits, and a quitter never wins – He wanted me to understand that life could get hard, but
I would always be successful if I stuck it out.
Trust nothing living, and walk carefully around
the dead – I would laugh when my father recited this one, but I this was his
way of teaching his young daughter to safeguard herself in this world.

When I learned that things happen in life to us that are not
fair, I would exclaim, “Life is not fair!” I had one uncle who would just say, “You are
right. It isn’t,” but how grateful I am to
another uncle who took the time to recite a poem which I cannot remember in
full. I do remember part of it and the
calm I felt after he told it. I hope one
day I will run into someone who will help me remember how the rest of it goes:

It starts out about how one day Wrong takes over and Right just
steps back. Wrong ruled for such a very
long time, and Right allows it. There
comes a day, however, when Wrong’s time is up. Right says, “Okay Wrong, you
have ruled for oh so long! It is time
for you to step aside and let me take over.”
Right puts down Wrong for good.

I was a teenager when I first heard this. I would ask my Uncle to tell it over and over
because of the hope it gave me. What
family sayings made the greatest impression on you?