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Wisdom From A 92 Year Old Man I Admired

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Althod JohnstonBetsy’s Grandpa Al was awesome.

He died a few months back and I cried. A lot. I stinkin loved that guy!

Even now I try really hard to picture him in heaven, on the right hand of the Father – IN CHRIST – but it’s hard because I’m selfish and want him back here, with us.

Anyway, his amazing daughter Janice – Betsy’s Mom, whom I love and respect mucho – shared this list personifying many of Al’s cherished character traits.

I was moved to share them with you and encourage you to pass them on as blessings of wisdom to younger generations.

Many are weary so please share it – we’re a hungry and needy generation.

Al would’ve wanted it so.

A fraction of the wisdom God bestowed on Athold Johnston

  1. Pray.
  2. Go to bed on time.
  3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
  4. Say No to projects that won’t fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
  5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
  6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
  7. Less is more – and that one is usually not enough and two are often too many.
  8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
  9. Pace yourself and spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don’t lump the hard things all together.
  10. Take one day at a time.
  11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do, do it, and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anything about a situation, forget it.
  12. Live within your budget; don’t use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
  13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
  14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
  15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
  16. Carry a Book with you to read while waiting in line.
  17. Get enough rest.
  18. Eat right.
  19. Get organized so everything has its place.
  20. Listen to something while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
  21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
  22. Every day, find time to be alone.
  23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don’t wait until it’s time to go to bed to try and pray.
  24. Make friends with people who love and seek Christ.
  25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
  26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good “Thank you my Almighty God.”
  27. Laugh.
  28. Laugh some more!
  29. Take your work seriously, but never take yourself to seriously.
  30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
  31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
  32. Sit on your ego.
  33. Talk less; listen more.
  34. Slow down.
  35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
  36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you’re grateful for that you’ve never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

Ponder how we can promote these values in our daily lives, and exemplify them!

I mean, we do want to remembered like Al – right?

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