"Five is Better than Zero," and other Wise sayings

"When you’re struggling not to say something in anger; stop thinking it!"

 –A saying of j hammond

When it’s time to get away, try using: "The Walmart Excuse"

–From a blog post by j hammond

"Deer, I am sorry to hurt you, but the people are hungry."

-Choctaw Hunter’s Prayer

"Remember that your children are not your own,
they are lent to you by the Creator."

–Mohawk proverb

"If we wonder often, the gift of knowledge will come."
-Arapaho proverb

"Five is better than zero!" Spoken by the guy you loaned
twenty dollars to when he pays you back only five dollars.
-A saying my brother attributes to Norman Wise.

The Seed of Faith

When I was a married law student I would sometimes study in public libraries because they were closer to home than the law school's library. I remember one day while studying at a public library that I heard a male voice say over and over again, “Thank You Jesus, Thank You Jesus, Thank You Jesus.”  My curiosity got the best of me so I got up and walked over to see what was going on. The speaker was a young man about twenty years old with his hands clasped together and his eyes screwed tightly shut in prayer. I didn't disturb him and went back to my own table wondering why he was so passionately thanking God. Had he gotten out of some kind of trouble? Did he recover from some serious illness?  Nevertheless, I went back to studying my law books and went on with my life and never saw the praying man again. But I never forgot him. From time to time I would think about him as eight years passed by. During that span of time I would experience many good things in my life, but also some bad things and some very deep emotional pain.

However, I give that young man's prayer allot of credit. I know in my heart that on that day, a seed was planted in my soul that mysteriously and persistently took root over time. Eventually, I would gain a much fuller understanding of why anyone would want to thank Jesus over and over again and without shame. Then came the fateful day when I myself made Jesus the lord of my life. Now I too have become very grateful for the many blessings that have come my way.  You just never know who might be listening to or watching you when you call upon that name that is above all names: Jesus.