Every family has them..those memories of childhood created by favorite family expressions and anecdotes. Most lay long forgotten, startled awake only occasionally by a recent event or comment. Yet, their wisdom and joyful images remain a part of who we are. Sadly, we revisit them all too rarely. Now is an attempt to change that. Here are some of the memories we have of growing up as the Maugel family in the small rural village of Farmer, Ohio. We’ll entitle this “Family Quips.”
Dad’s favorite expression when I had done something wrong and I tried to explain it by saying I didn’t think that it would happen: He would quickly reply, “That’s just it, you didn’t THINK.”
“Hard work never hurt anyone.”
“Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.”
“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”
“You need to gather your hay when the sun is shining.”
“He who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.”
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.””
“Caution is the better part of valor.”
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
“It’s no use crying over spilled milk.”
“A penny saved is a penny earned.”
“She took off like a horse heading for the barn.”
My brother was a very good basketball player; and he tells the story, after a particular difficult loss, turning to Dad and asking, “Dad, I just don’t understand. I try to honor God and do the right thing, why did he allow us to lose such an important game?” To which my father quickly responded, “I know, but he’s not going to move your feet for you.”
Another quip from Dad is said to one of my brothers who will remain nameless, “You know, you do two things really well…telling other people what to do and standing there and watching them do it.”
Dad’s response to us kids getting home late on weekends: “Son, if it can’t get done before midnight, it doesn’t need done.”