​Marriage: Before you run in double harness, look well to the horse.
This may not be my field of expertise, but it was in the quotations and I think it is an important topic. I have seen plenty of marriages - both good and bad. Love can blind you, so before you get too deeply involved in a relationship, taking a good look at a person’s friends, background, interests, financial abilities, etc, can save you from a world of hurt later on. It’s not being cold-hearted, in my mind, but a practical look at the reality of life. Whether single or married, life will hold challenges and it’s how you approach those times that adds to your character. Your colleagues, friends, family and acquaintances can give good advice if we are willing to ask and listen carefully before making relational decisions. (Photo: Old church in Wales - lots of marrying and burying there over the centuries!)

Kindness is like snow; it beautifies everything it covers.
We all know people that we want to be around. Have you ever stopped to consider why? If we ponder it long enough, the deep-seated would be - they are kind. It is no hardship to stop in and visit kind people. You always want to be with them, to listen to them. You feel safe with them. In today’s world with so much chaos and sharpness, kindness is a huge commodity. I know for myself this is a challenge to work towards; it isn’t always easy, but there can never be too much kindness. (Photo: a lovely winter afternoon with the beauty of the sun on the snow.)

Humility: We wouldn’t worry so much about what people thought of us if we knew how seldom they did.
This saying is certainly designed to take us down a peg and put our ego back where it belongs. It certainly gives you something to think about. What is it that makes us worry about what other people think? I know it’s easy to build thoughts in my head that I assign to people without any fact to back it up. The best way to live our life is simply to get on with our work and do it to the best of our ability. When we’re busy and content doing our things, we don’t take the time to look around and judge others, which in turn helps us not to worry about how others might be judging us! No wonder the Bible has the verse “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” I had a chance one year to vote in a “tree judging” competition as to which business had the best tree. It was a hard choice - but ever since when I see a Christmas tree it reminds me to enjoy what I see, and don’t worry about judging how good it is. That is true about people too - enjoy them for who they are.( I used a post of a wreathe to represent how complete we are when we just keep going around doing our own business and how blessed it is to be complete and whole - just like we enjoy wreathes.)

 ​Honesty: It takes an honest man to tell whether he’s tired or just lazy.
I love how the Lord allows just the right saying for the right week. We’re starting a New Year - and what is the quote about? Honesty! So let’s be honest - did you set any New Year’s Resolutions, and are you honestly working at them?! I will admit I have a couple - but I always say, “I will try to….” as I know how hard it can be to stick to something sometimes. But whether we are setting New Year’s Resolutions or not, honesty is a trait that is desperately needed. So many people don’t realize the value of this trait, or don’t try to cultivate it. But our actions speak louder than words, and we establish a reputation built on our character traits. I felt the photo I chose is a good one to represent honesty - a snow covered scene is clear and pure and opened wide - people see us as such when our character is honest and clean. 
​It made me smile to read the quote as it’s a literal one for me. Many times people have told me, “Oh you are so busy; how do you do it all?” Whereas I’m sitting there saying to myself, “Stop being so lazy. Get up and do something.” I’ve always been 110% or nothing. So when I stop, it’s a dead halt, which makes me feel lazy. But whatever the view in a beholder’s eye, it’s a trait we all can claim for a New Year’s Resolution. Honesty is not always easy, but so worth the effort.