Skip to main content

Smarty Pants



“Preconceived notions are the locks on the door to wisdom.”

Merry Browne


No one is more surprised than me when I realize I’m not all that smart at times. On my recent trip to the mall to shop for end-of-summer discounted 70 percent clothing, I learned something about myself. I thought I was buying clothes; but I was developing an open mind!

I always thought I was too large to wear white pants so I never bought them. When I was visiting my sister in Chicago, she looked stunning in them and we are the same size. I found a $40 pair reduced to $8 and had to try them on. They looked great and were nice and long for my tall frame. I bought them!

Preconceived ideas are haunting. I cringe at the times they wiggle themselves into my personal Bible studies. How arrogant to think I know what a passage is all about because it is familiar to me. Sometimes I forget that God’s Word is alive and full of power and can change me unlike any other written concepts.

I heard a great sermon about marriage last Sunday taught by our husband & wife pastoral team. What leaped out at me in their presentation was “Listen to your spouse with your heart and not your head.” Sometimes we hear our spouse through filters of anger, rejection or some other emotion. Oh, my! I can think of times that preconceived ideas kept me from hearing what my husband was saying. I would think to myself “yeah, I’ve heard that before; you will never change.” Talk about a defeatist attitude!

I smiled when I put my new white pants on a hanger and hung them up in my clothes closet next to a row of black slacks and dark blue jeans. The “White Pants Victory” is just the beginning. With the Lord’s help, I hope to be victorious in these other areas, too!




This post links to On Your Heart Tuesdays.

Comments

  1. a joyful noiseSeptember 19, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    Enjoy your white pants !! They will go with just about any color blouse and - - what a bargain they were!! God is so good to help us shop. He plans these little details to surprise us and cause us to be happy. I rejoice when he does this for me, and I rejoice with you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AmySeptember 20, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    What a wonderful reminder. Sometimes those preconceived notions run so deep that I don't even notice they're there until someone points it out.

    And I love the rose picture at the top of your post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/September 20, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    I love this so much Mary, that I just might go and buy some white pants!!

    What a great way to make such a valid point.

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  4. mountain mamaSeptember 20, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    i totally get this. i always have preconceived notions AND very high expectations...sigh.

    i enjoyed my visit here, thank you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. PeggySeptember 20, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    You go, girl! Congratulations on your white pants victory! That inspires me to look for more victories in my life.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mevely317September 20, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    You GO, girl! :)))
    I need to remember that part about listening with my heart, not my head and welcome a surprise or two!

    ReplyDelete
  7. CarrieSeptember 20, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    Great post, Mom. Now the real question is: Is wearing white pants after Labor Day a preconceived idea or is that for real?? :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just Be RealSeptember 21, 2011 at 3:28 AM

    A ha! Great reminder. Thank you for sharing on this dear one.....blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  9. ShandaSeptember 21, 2011 at 9:52 PM

    This was all so true. Thank you for the comment about listening to our spouses with our hearts instead of our heads. I'm going to try to put this one into action.

    ReplyDelete
  10. lioneagleOctober 15, 2011 at 4:35 AM

    Hi Mary -

    You go, lady of GOD, with your white pants on. Glad you were delivered from that bondage.

    GOD is in everything - even the tiniest details. Isn't that so wonderful and comforting?!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Venomous Intruder

It’s the middle of rattlesnake season here on the ranch.  The local news anchor confirmed it.   I’ve seen two already.    While driving along our dirt road yesterday, I mistook a virulent enemy for a branch. I backed up the car, looked again and noticed the branch shifted revealing a rattle at its end. At one of our road association meetings in the barn, Shelby stood up and shouted, “ BOB !” to my next door neighbor.  He’s our vice president and the one all eyes were on as he gave a presentation in the middle of the room.  I sensed fear in the way she yelled his name.  I learned after the meeting that Shelby called out to him like that because she saw a rattler slither in the barn door where she and I sat.  Bob yielded to the interruption and quietly dispatched the enemy.  Ten minutes later, this tough guy was back to center stage falling right back in step with the business at hand.   Bob is my new best friend. ...
42 comments
Read more

A Memorial Day Reflection

  Memorial Day is always noteworthy for me and my girls.  Next Thursday marks the third year of missing their father, my husband. So many thoughts  run through my mind.  The journey of loss takes on various emotions.  The strongest feeling, at first, was emptiness.  In a split second, I would forget he departed forever.  I imagined things I needed to talk to him about when he got back home.  My mind is realistic now.  He's not coming back.  There will be no more times of sitting on the porch swing together on the front deck staring at the moon and the stars.  He would tell me all he knew about the majestic night sky. I have so much I wish I could tell him, like the excitement of seeing our oldest grandchild make a decision to follow Jesus and get baptized on Mother's Day!  And our little Amy, 11 years old, I wish he could have seen her on stage receiving her induction to the National Honor Society. Our daughters have their own ...
23 comments
Read more

Hearts for the Kingdom Author Interview

When I finished reading Hearts for the Kingdom last week, I contacted the author, Cho Larson.   We talked about the book and he graciously agreed to be my guest today.  Together we hope to inspire you in your journey of faith to pursue God with a heart that is alive and beating for the Kingdom of God. Mary:  Cho, when I finished your book, I felt loved and very close to my Savior. Cho:  I’m overwhelmed at the encouraging response to it. Mary:  How long did it take to write this book? Cho:  God works in mysterious ways. As I’ve observed God’s hand at work, it’s easy for me to picture Him as the Great Conductor, orchestrating everything in perfect harmony. Hearts for the Kingdom wasn’t my original plan, but after I sent another manuscript I was working on to my editor, while waiting for him to edit, the need became clear for a foundational book. This book required about six months to complete. Mary: as an author, what is the me...
32 comments
Read more