Wednesday; October 28

I don’t really know too much about William Penn – other than they named a state after him – but the other day I came upon a quote of his.  Now, please be a bit patient with me because I will quote the saying as it was written by the 17th Century Quaker, “In marriage do thou be wise: prefer the person before money, virtue before beauty, the mind before the body; then thou hast a wife, a friend, a companion, a second self.”  Mr. Penn has been gone for over 300 years, but I think his insights are still as applicable today as they were three centuries ago. 

We live in a world that tends to value superficial qualities and those preferences are tempting in every aspect of life, even our relationships.  It is easy to assess things and people by exterior qualities, but all too often these things are superficial.  The qualities that make the best impact are those that are often found by looking deep beneath the surface. 

What are we teaching the next generation to value?  Many of us are settled into our relationships, but we set the tone for those who will come after us.  Are we encouraging them to pursue substance rather than style?  If we really care about where this world is heading, let’s teach them those tried and true lessons that pay dividends on so many levels.

Think About It!

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