For many, the hobby of thrifting or garage sale exploration is exciting. Finding treasures unwittingly priced for a dollar or two, then discovering their true value is thrilling. Thrifters understand that things of value, this day and age viewed as worthless or irrelevant to the present, are often thoughtlessly and carelessly discarded.
Pearls of wisdom have been passed down to us through the years. Adages from historical figures, sayings from our grandmothers, proverbs from the Bible – all containing great value, but frequently neglected because their worth is not fully understood. Sadly, many of those wisdom pearls – meant to guide us, prepare us, warn us, encourage us – have become lost treasures in the proverbial thrift shop of life.
Sayings like: “fools rush in where angels fear to tread” and “look before you leap”. Both cautions to thoughtfully and wisely walk through life. But today, “just do it” seems to be the preferred method of living, frequently leading us to question – “what have I done?”
Or: “it is better to give than to receive” and “with gratitude, what we have will always be enough”. Both pearls encouraging us to practice generosity and thankfulness. But today, we often find ourselves embracing entitlement and the unending pursuit of more.
Sometimes we give away gems that no longer fit “our reality preferences”. We look at the elders of yesterday and consider their wisdom out of date – not understanding that the basic principles of life never change or lose their importance. The pearls of those who came before us typically originated in simpler times – times absent non-stop busyness – times when reflection, discernment, and forethought were exercised.
In the upcoming days, perhaps consider some of the pearls you have been given over the years. Take a moment to study and understand the value of the pearl. And if you determine it’s been left in life’s thrift shop, purpose to reclaim it.
For more on this topic, please visit the Whimspiration YouTube channel “Faith Hope & Friends”.