Today’s saying, “A baker’s dozen,” marks the thirteenth of what I might call Nonny’s borrowed ‘words of wisdom.’ Purportedly in times past the proprietor of an Old World British bakery would put in an extra roll or loaf to make sure the baker would not suffer a penalty from the government. Sometimes the baker would … Continue reading A Baker’s Dozen (Sayings I Grew Up With #13)
Category: Snippet
Kalte Hände, Warmes Herz: Cold Hands, Warm Heart (Sayings I Grew Up With #12)
I used to use the saying, “Kalte hände, warmes herz. Cold hands, warm heart,” first pronouncing the German, and then the English every Sunday morning when members of my church congregation would shake hands with one another during a time of morning greeting. I never got the simple greeting of “Good Morning!” Here’s why. I’ve … Continue reading Kalte Hände, Warmes Herz: Cold Hands, Warm Heart (Sayings I Grew Up With #12)
The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Oil (Sayings I Grew Up With #11)
Many of us tend to associate getting older with negative consequences. Actually life experiences over many years can help us grow in productive ways. Assertiveness and speaking out are attributes I have grown into over time. I have followed the adage, "The squeaky wheel get the oil," and let my voice be heard when I … Continue reading The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Oil (Sayings I Grew Up With #11)
You Catch More Flies With Honey Than With Vinegar (Sayings I Grew Up With #10)
There are parts of our society which thrive on being confrontational with any idea which doesn’t match their own. This idea may be political, religious, or philosophical. Might we all do better to be open to civil discourse and cooperation. Rather than having a stalemate where nothing is achieved, try stating your position with politeness … Continue reading You Catch More Flies With Honey Than With Vinegar (Sayings I Grew Up With #10)
A Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well (Sayings I Grew Up With #9)
Whatever job you have, however mundane it may seem, deserves the time and attention to produce a good product. If you can’t commit to that, find another job where you can. Sayings I Grew Up WithConnie Carlisle Polley, 2023ConnieCarlislePolley.comNonnyDay.com
All That Glitters Is Not Gold (Sayings I Grew Up With #8)
We sometimes get caught up in the attractiveness of a perceived opportunity. Perhaps we need to take a step back to see the big picture. Is that golden opportunity really what it seems to be at its core? Let’s not forget the axiom, “All that glitters is not gold.” Sayings I Grew Up WithConnie Carlisle … Continue reading All That Glitters Is Not Gold (Sayings I Grew Up With #8)
When It Rains It Pours (Sayings I Grew Up With #7)
It seems that when a bad or unfortunate event occurs, another and perhaps more than one, happen(s) in rapid succession. We need to remember we can’t always control what happens to us. However, when we find ourselves the recipient of “When it rains it pours,” let’s recall we can control how we react to our … Continue reading When It Rains It Pours (Sayings I Grew Up With #7)
Attention! Draw Swords! Charge! (Sayings I Grew Up With #6)
Believe it or not, in years past, I heard the instructions, “Attention! Draw swords! Charge!” all the time in the Bible Sword Drills’ practice at my church. Participants (which included me) in our children’s or youth groups memorized Scriptures and where they were found in the Holy Bible. We stood in single file facing the … Continue reading Attention! Draw Swords! Charge! (Sayings I Grew Up With #6)
A Lick and A Promise (Sayings I Grew Up With #5)
In my mind I can still hear my mother’s voice describing a quick cleaning she had done to a room or rooms in her home by saying she had given the job “a lick and a promise.” She meant her dust rag had wiped around the perimeter of perhaps a lamp, some framed photos, and … Continue reading A Lick and A Promise (Sayings I Grew Up With #5)
Better Late Than Never (Sayings I Grew Up With #4)
The maxim, “Better late than never,” advises me that whether it’s a day or maybe even years later than when I should have said ‘thank you’ or ‘I’m sorry,’ to go ahead and do it. Usually even a belated word of thanks is appreciated. And who knows? Maybe a heart-felt admission of regret may bring … Continue reading Better Late Than Never (Sayings I Grew Up With #4)
A Stitch In Time (Sayings I Grew Up With #3)
In sewing if you have a garment/household or other item made of a sewable material and it develops a hole—you’d better mend it quickly before it gets bigger. Beyond its literal meaning, the quote, “A stitch in time saves nine,” advises us that delaying addressing a problem may increase the time, energy, and cost of … Continue reading A Stitch In Time (Sayings I Grew Up With #3)
A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned (Sayings I Grew Up With #2)
I grew up with the saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned." On a recent morning television broadcast, I heard how to save almost painlessly over $600 in one year. On day one, put one penny in your savings jar. Thereafter, each day add one more cent toward your daily savings jar deposit. In … Continue reading A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned (Sayings I Grew Up With #2)
Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness (Sayings I Grew Up With #1)
There are numerous sayings I grew up with. One of them, “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” was a favorite of my mother as she instructed our family to wash our hands before eating to rid them of germs. But also, after eating to keep our house furnishings clean. It was a good practice then and … Continue reading Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness (Sayings I Grew Up With #1)
A North Star Worthy of Following
I don't think anyone reading my blog today would disagree with the statement that our society has become less and less civil. As information is spread so quickly through mass media, we make snap judgments which may or may not be based on truth. Consequently many allow their perceptions of what is right or wrong … Continue reading A North Star Worthy of Following
In the Beginning…
As I was recently going through some old family documents, I came across a United States Postal Service first class stamp with the denomination of six cents. “Wow!” I thought. “When I sent a Christmas card this year, the cost was ten times as much-sixty cents.” The stamp had never been used to send a … Continue reading In the Beginning…
Carrying Each Other’s Burdens
There are times when life can become overwhelming. The sense of not being able to shoulder alone what is being thrown at you is very real for all of us at one time or another. It may be the loss of a loved one. Or losing one’s job. Struggling with health issues. Betrayal of a … Continue reading Carrying Each Other’s Burdens
Enduring Thorns 🌹
One of my climbing red rose bushes a couple of years ago developed a really thick stem with huge prickly thorns for practically its entire length of about four feet. That started me to think about the thorns we are enduring in our daily lives which have been turned topsy-turvy since 2020 as we continue … Continue reading Enduring Thorns 🌹
Special Delivery
As I was video-chatting with one of my grandsons recently, my casual conversation drifted to a time in my marriage before children. I told him I had had my first full-time teaching position in the adjacent community of Jeffersontown, or known by most of us as J-town. And my husband was working as a machinist … Continue reading Special Delivery
Worry the Judge!
For a long time, I interpreted the judge in one of Jesus’ New Testament parables as a figure representing God. I even had a family member whose instruction to me was, “Worry the Judge!” when I would complain to him about some disturbing aspect of my life. However, now upon closer examination of the Gospel … Continue reading Worry the Judge!
Do You Need A Father?
If there is no father in your life, whatever the cause—perhaps death or abandonment—a Holy God wants to fill that void. And He equally desires to comfort and protect the widow who has lost her mate. What I’ve chosen to share with you today in my blog is a brief but powerful promise from the … Continue reading Do You Need A Father?
Going Out the Way You Came In
There has never been a single individual born on earth wearing bejeweled rings, a fancy headdress, or an elegant garment. All come into this world completely unadorned. And there is nothing from this world that you can take out with you. In the Christian religious faith, we believe after death the soul of a believer … Continue reading Going Out the Way You Came In
Money Is . . .
Have you ever heard that saying, “Money is the root of all evil”? Where does that come from? Shakespeare? Let’s see, maybe it’s Benjamin Franklin. He left behind a lot of words of wisdom. Or is it from the Bible? Just might be that you are nodding your head and saying, “O, yeah, that’s a … Continue reading Money Is . . .
Sabbatical Series: Work Brings Hope
It has always been true that the world has a way of catching us off guard. Many of us like to think we have our life in control. Especially if we were fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable middle-class family, we have been taught to work hard and life will reward you. Pestilence, … Continue reading Sabbatical Series: Work Brings Hope
Sabbatical Series: Lessons Learned Through Loss
It has always been true that the world has a way of catching us off guard. Many of us like to think we have our life in control. Especially if we were fortunate enough to be born into a comfortable middle-class family, we have been taught to work hard and life will reward you. Pestilence, … Continue reading Sabbatical Series: Lessons Learned Through Loss
The Thrill of Anticipation
One of the things the now two-year-old COVID-19 pandemic has taken from those individuals who have found themselves isolated from family and friends is not only actual personal visits or personal interactions but the thrill of anticipation of that happening. These individuals might include those who live in a private room in a nursing facility. … Continue reading The Thrill of Anticipation
Hold Onto My Keys While I’m Gone
Maybe you have a neighbor, friend, or relative who has the key(s) to your home or business. This is the person you want to watch over your property when you are away and notify you if something is not quite right. I’m going to share with you a story I happened to see on television … Continue reading Hold Onto My Keys While I’m Gone
Message of the Grapevine–Pass It On!
The grapevine when it is bursting with royal purple grapes against large emerald-green heart-shaped leaves is just about as pretty as any fruit on any fruit tree. And wine made from these luscious berries feels equally at home at an elegant dinner party, for a casual event or on a church communion table. But before … Continue reading Message of the Grapevine–Pass It On!