By Nancy Patrick

Back in August I began writing a series of essays based on my “Thoughts for the Day” list I used as class openers during my teaching days. They provided a simple, yet productive, way to get the attention of a room full of hormone-laden teenagers.

No one wanted to jump right into a discussion of composition writing or grammatical structures in the English language, but most of us enjoyed sharing our opinions and listening to others’ opinions about adages passed down through the ages. My list contained many sources—the Bible, literature, politics, and almanacs. Here begins a discussion of the next five “thoughts” from my list.

#The heart has reasons the head does not understand.
Throughout life, no matter whether a long one or a short one, people encounter situations almost daily when they have to make decisions. Some of those decisions require no thought—cereal or toast for breakfast, dressy or casual for work. Others require much more deliberation—stay in a tumultuous relationship, apply for a different job, allow a child a certain privilege or possession, or agree to keep a secret for a loved one.

I like to think of myself as a totally logical and reasonable person, but the truth shows that my heart sometimes outweighs my rational self. I could scold myself or I could recognize and accept that my emotions make me a human being, not a robot.

#All God’s laws are God’s loves.
As a young woman, I became interested in biblical laws, wondering why God was so specific in Leviticus when he laid down his laws about everything under the sun! From the internet’s AI overview I found this statement: “The Old Testament laws—traditionally counted as 613 commandments—are found in the Torah (Genesis–Deuteronomy) and include moral, ceremonial, and civil laws forming Israel’s covenant with God.”

I refer to my Judeo-Christian background; however, all religions have their own set of rules or guidelines that resemble the one I used. So, we might ask, “Why does God have so many laws? Why not just leave us alone to live as we see fit?”

As the adage implies, religious law comes from the Creator’s love for His creation. If we examine some of the dietary and social rules, we can easily see that following them results in a healthier life than indulgence and self-gratification.

#A loving heart is the truest wisdom.
Children are not the only ones who have a lot to learn about the intricacies of human life. As a senior adult, I continue to search for wisdom in my life. When people get a job, enroll in a school, or join a club, they get a manual of expected conduct.

Those are the rules, and I follow the rules; as a matter of fact, I could be guilty of following rules to the letter rather than the intent of the rule. Love goes beyond the letter of the law. As a school teacher, my loving heart taught me to dispense discipline or penalties to students who had broken the rules. We all encounter situations that may inadvertently cause us to fail to meet an expectation. Love looks to encourage rather than to chastise.

#Are we giving to others the kind of love we want from God?
This adage continues the theme of the power of love.  Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you… For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” The lesson here is that we should look at others as God looks at us. We ask God for a lot of things, both spiritual and material. In return, God expects us to love others as parts of our family. Following the Golden Rule makes for a better world.

#Scorn a pleasure which gives another pain.
Following this advice may sound simple, but actually living by it can be quite difficult. In other words, I can legitimately do many things, but my doing so might cause someone else pain or grief. Following this precept may be one of the most difficult admonitions to obey.

We see results of ignoring this truth in relationships all around us. Some of those instances become very public while others remain within the confines of families in which they occur.

One example that created excruciating pain in my own family involved my younger sister’s decision to divorce her husband of thirty-five years to marry another man. She and her husband shared twin sons and were an important part of our larger family. Although my sister had the power to please herself, that choice broke our parents’ hearts, her husband’s heart, her sons’ hearts, and all the people who loved her and my brother-in-law.

News headlines reveal these types of questionable relationships frequently. Choosing selfish pleasure over the happiness of others reveals a self-centered person who often comes to regret that destructive decision.

I always hoped my “thoughts for the day” would influence some of my students as they passed through adolescence, heading for adulthood. I wish I could say that my life has consistently illustrated the core values of my “thoughts,” but I know I have failed many times. The best advice for us as we travel life’s road is to strive for goodness and the betterment of our fellow travelers.

Nancy Patrick is a retired teacher who lives in Abilene and enjoys writing