School of Hard Knocks
Many of us went to, and even graduated from the School of Hard Knocks. I’ll never forget how smart my husband and I thought we were starting out in life — so very young and inexperienced. His dad tried to counsel us on so many things and offer his sound advice and wisdom to us. But, no, we had to do things “our way” — which we thought was the much “better way”. Oh, how much time, effort, and money we could have saved ourselves had we heeded his wisdom. Two years before we married, against his dad’s recommendations for an automatic, Ron was determined to get a standard shift car — and it just HAD to be a 1964 Chevy Super Sport Impala. I remember “Ronnie” trying to teach me to drive it — and, oh my, I have memories of almost sending us through the windshield from trying to shift from neutral to first to second to third and almost stripping the gears. Eventually, I got it down. But we had many regrets about that car — if only we’d listened. And, we learned the “hard knocks” way in so many other ventures.
Many of us are still in the School of Hard Knocks, and we’re still diligently pursuing that place of success and prosperity. I assure you — we’ll get to graduate, sooner rather than later, if we’ll listen to, and apply, Professor Wisdom’s words that are found in the Book of Proverbs. We’ll find in her “Wisdom Class” that wisdom doesn’t come automatically. Rather, it’s tested and proven in day-to-day life.
Professor Wisdom or “Lady Wisdom” is a teacher who is more concerned about teaching us valuable lessons, and less concerned about being our friend. She teaches us that the way of wisdom is not always an easy road, but she does promise that if we hang in there, and keep heeding her advice, we’ll get to a blessed life. Proverbs 4:5-7 “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of HER mouth. Forsake HER not, and SHE shall preserve you: LOVE HER, and SHE shall keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting — get understanding.” Let’s heed Professor Wisdom’s advice, as well as to those brilliant and successful sages that have paved the way for us — it is sure worth the investment!