March 1, 2019 (Friday)
A saying that has held its ground for many generations is, “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” Not always true, but easy to remember.
I wish I could remember all the sayings my grandmother shared from time to time. One that I will never forget was, “If you don’t like my peaches, don’t shake my trees.” That one was usually used by her during a “discussion” with my grandfather.
That grandmother–my mother’s mother–was born in Leon County in 1885 and raised in East Texas’ Angelina County. My other grandmother, however, was born in River Falls, Wisconsin, and raised there. Perhaps they had a lot of old sayings there, too, but I don’t remember her sharing one.
Here are a few old sayings in Texas:
It’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
That’s close enough for government work.
Might as well. Can’t dance, never could sing, and it’s too wet to plow.
I couldn’t sit still for that.
You can’t beat that with a stick.
How about these:
He can strut sitting down.
I wouldn’t trust him any farther than I can throw him.
So crooked he has to unscrew his britches at night.
And these:
You can take that to the bank.
You can hang your hat on it.
You can bet the farm on it.
And..
He’d argue with a wooden Indian.
He’ll tell you how the cow ate the cabbage.
So dry..
So dry the Baptists are sprinkling, the Methodists are spitting, and the Catholics are giving rain checks.
So dry the catfish are carrying canteens.
So dry the trees are bribing the dogs.
And on they go. There seems to be no end to the old sayings.
Believe it or not, there is one of these kinds of sayings in the Bible: “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” (Jeremiah 31:29 NIV). Those who said that were blaming ancestors instead of themselves. You and I are personally accountable to the Lord. That’s something we should never forget.