Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Words of Wisdom

A few months ago we received Pop's Last Epistle, enclosed with treasures. Pop is one of Todd's grandpas. One of the treasures is a simple poem written by Lowell Bennion and adopted by Pop as a "good outline for a 'Turley family Code of Conduct.'" Like a true Arizona cowboy Pop did take the liberty of replacing "dogs" with "a horse" and I think we'll keep it that way.
I love his words, their truth and simplicity. I think we'll truly be happy if we make it our code of conduct, too.

Learn to like what doesn't cost much.
Learn to like reading, conversation, music.
Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.
Learn to like fields, trees, brooks, hiking, rowing, climbing hills.
Learn to like people, even though
some of them may be . . . different from you.
Learn to like to work and enjoy the satisfaction
of doing your job as well as it can be done.
Learn to like the songs of birds,
the companionship of [a horse].
Learn to like gardening,
puttering around the house and fixing things.
Learn to like the sunrise and sunset,
the beating of rain on the roof and windows,
and the gentle fall of snow on a winter's day.
Learn to keep your wants simple and
refuse to be controlled by the likes and dislikes of others.

1 comment:

Becky said...

loved pop's epistle too. i have some things to work on though before i can preach this to our kids.