In just a few days, my parents will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary!! They’re as much in love if not more so than when I was young. In fact, they still go hiking together almost every day… a luxury they didn’t have when I was little and couldn’t be left alone!
So in honor of their 40th anniversary, here are 40 things my parents taught me.
- Listen to the right voice. There are many voices telling what you can/can’t/should do. Don’t listen to whatever voice is speaking now; listen to the right voice!
2. Be kind. You don’t need much in the way of rules if you just be kind.
3. Napoleon said, “An army marches on its stomach” and the same is true for hikers. Eat while you’re hiking, whether you feel hungry or not, and your hike will go much better.
4. There is a right and a wrong way to stack a pile of freshly split wood.
5. Don’t think, “Nothing will go wrong.” Instead, think, “If something did go wrong, what are the consequences and do I want to live with them?”
6. Math is useful in real life.
7. Elevation makes a big difference between being hot and cold – not to mention being able to breathe.
8. Lift up the weak instead of despising them. You never know when you’ll be the weak one.
9. Find ways to entertain yourself. You don’t need to be fed entertainment if you have a good imagination.
10. Muddy clothing and muddy boots do not belong in the house, let alone on a freshly-mopped floor.
11. Shifting lanes on a highway is more about a slow glide than a sharp jerk of the wheel akin to turning a corner into the next lane.
12. You can make apple cider with a (well-washed) meat grinder. Double points if the grinder has lost all of its seals and the cider flows out of its own accord!
13. Train yourself to love worshipping God and everything else in your life will be surrendered to God, as well.
14. Van roofs are great places to stand to pick apples – and so are Daddy’s shoulders.
15. Oil changes are well within the realm of a normal human being.
16. Mowing the lawn in a straight line is a virtue, but it’s more fun to mow in an ever-widening circle.
17. Adventures aren’t something to be afraid of.
18. Be aware of others’ perspectives and feelings. Not only can they teach you a lot, but you can accept them from love instead of from judgment.
19. You must put yeast into yeast bread if you want it to rise.
20. Reading books aloud is a great family bonding experience.
21. Theology is good, but it’s no substitute for the Bible or experiencing God for yourself.
22. Taking off in a van (or car) across the country to hike and see new places is normal, but a lot of people don’t see it that way.
23. What is shown on the news and in the media isn’t always the truth or even reality. Be aware that they are trying to manipulate your emotions.
24. Take photographs with the sun in front of your subject so it won’t be backlit.
25. Hiking in the rain is no big deal as long as it’s warm and not thundering.
26. Wear a hat to keep your entire body warm(er).
27. Live below your means so you have money saved up for true adventures, emergencies, and to be able to bless others financially.
28. Contentment is a very happy place to be (and contentment and lethargy are definitely not the same thing).
29. Shared experiences are the cords of relationships that are very difficult to break.
30. There is a way to settle differences of opinion that doesn’t include arguing or fighting.
31. Before you do something, ask yourself: “Will this hurt someone? Can the little kids watching me do this too?”
32. If you don’t water plants, they’ll die. If you water plants too much, they’ll die.
33. Don’t play in the woods during hunting season.
34. People may treat you poorly and even unfairly, but that isn’t an excuse to not forgive them.
35. Singing in key is a good life skill.
36. You don’t ever have to grow up too much to enjoy “sleigh riding” down snowy hills or jumping down sand dunes.
37. Relationships are more important than a pristine house, but housework is important, too.
38. Memorize the Bible when you’re young and you’ll remember it better than if you try to do it as an adult.
39. Baking cookies is fun!
40. Communication is one of the keys to a great marriage.
Happy 40th Mom and Daddy!
