Experiential Lessons

My core, right and wrong, is credited to not only how I was raised, but by whom raised me.  All my mentoring goes to a biblical base - not denominational - rather experiential.  True too, is that my tutoring also included my mentor's as well.  

An example might be, while foraging in the woods, my dad might have said, "don't pick and eat that mushroom, it's poisonous." (I only wish I would have listened to those lessons - I would love to forage now).  My mom had funny little sayings, of which I won't repeat on here...LOL.  However, I've come to realize that those were from her mom.  My grandma Kincaid was only about 8 when her mom passed on and she became the "woman" of the home.  Baking bread, cooking and feeding her dad and brothers at a very young age, all while living on and in logging camps in Michigan and northern Wisconsin.  As a young girl, living with all those men, she had some "special" little tips for us girls...what not's to do....I'm sure from her life experiences.  I don't believe anything "bad" happened to her, but as an 8 year old trying to figure out how to handle things, these sayings are very true, but very child like.    

Whatever you were taught, is from the previous generation's life experiences - this is true!  I also know that my inherent nature is not to trust - I'll just say it - the government.  That is not only from my Scotch/Irish but, also Native American heritage.  Those were very experiential lessons for my ancestors!  Of which, play a role in how we become who we are.    


Where are you going with this Dicky Bird?  Who is this about?  I often get questioned - no, not true - I get LOTS of questions about what I post.  I don't have an ulterior motive in writing, trust me when I say, I'm not that smart!  I try to be encouraging with what I feel God laid upon my heart.  I'm thinking about this after a conversation I had with a young woman I know.  Understanding that not everyone comes from the same beginnings is important in helping, even mentoring them.  

For some, their experiential lessons were not good.  Maybe a family history of abuse, neglect or addiction.   Maybe living in poverty on a reservation or even in the projects.  Maybe not knowing or having a spiritual reference, a "savior" to call upon.  I'm sure many other examples come to mind, maybe even your own.   

I want to say, we can NOT change our past, however we CAN change our future.  It's up to you - it comes from within.  I would recommend reflecting on who you are and why you do the things you do.  I would be remiss if I didn't say to pray about it.  I had to learn a whole series of lessons I wrote about in several posts called, "Lessons in Turning it Over to Jesus."  I will share the links here, if you have time, some day, read them.  This is my experiential base, how I was able to "handle" my mother's stroke, dad's heart attack, daughter's cancer it's a reflection on how Jesus took me on a journey of "faith."  It's a lot to read now, but save this and come back to them.  Here they are:  

http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-1-how-to-turn-it-over-to-jesus.html

http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-2-learing-to-turn-it-over-to.html

http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-3-how-to-turn-it-over-to-jesus.html

http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-4-how-to-turn-it-over-to-jesus.html

http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-5-learning-to-turn-it-over-to.html

http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-6-learning-to-turn-it-over-to.html

http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-7-learning-to-turn-it-over-to.html

http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-8-learning-to-turn-it-over-to.html

http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-9-learning-to-turn-it-over-to.html

http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-10-learning-to-turn-it-over-to.html

http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-11-learing-to-turn-it-over-to.html

Truthfully, I just reread them...I'm crying at how good Jesus is!  It just hit me, maybe this post was for me, I needed to be reminded of it.  However, if you do read them, I hope you can find something to glean.  You can take your experiential lessons, no matter how terrible they may have been and turn it into something that will help you not hurt you.   I'm here for you if you have anything you want to share or email me about.   

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.