This past Sunday, I talked about growing up on a farm, and all the experiences of getting up hay, and of picking, shucking, and shelling many an ear of corn. I was reminded in the process of something I read here while back in The Tennessee Legionnaire (originally submitted by Randall Smith, Post 26 Humboldt, TN) in the August, 2009 issue. It is titled simply: An Old Farmer’s Advice. I hope you enjoy it.
• Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight, and bull-strong.
• Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
• Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
• A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
• Words that soak into your ears are whispered - not yelled.
• Meanness don't just happen overnight.
• Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
• Don't corner something that you know is meaner than you.
• It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
• You can’t unsay a cruel word.
• Every path has a few puddles.
• When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
• The best sermons are lived, not preached.
• Most of the stuff people worry about ain't ever gonna happen anyway.
• Don't judge folks by their relatives.
• Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
• Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
• Don't interfere with something that ain't bothering you none.
• Timing has a lot to do with the success of a rain dance.
• If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.
• Sometimes you get; and sometimes you get got.
• The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with watches you from the mirror every morning.
• Always drink upstream from the herd.
• Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
• Letting the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in.
• If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around.
• Live simply, love generously, care deeply, and speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
• Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he may just kill you.
Just a few things to think about from somebody who grew up on a farm!
• Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight, and bull-strong.
• Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
• Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
• A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
• Words that soak into your ears are whispered - not yelled.
• Meanness don't just happen overnight.
• Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
• Don't corner something that you know is meaner than you.
• It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
• You can’t unsay a cruel word.
• Every path has a few puddles.
• When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
• The best sermons are lived, not preached.
• Most of the stuff people worry about ain't ever gonna happen anyway.
• Don't judge folks by their relatives.
• Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
• Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
• Don't interfere with something that ain't bothering you none.
• Timing has a lot to do with the success of a rain dance.
• If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.
• Sometimes you get; and sometimes you get got.
• The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with watches you from the mirror every morning.
• Always drink upstream from the herd.
• Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
• Letting the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in.
• If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around.
• Live simply, love generously, care deeply, and speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
• Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he may just kill you.
Just a few things to think about from somebody who grew up on a farm!