Page 6 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine 2020 Spring - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS
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Senior Senior Sarah Bess Cox

Nana's Nuggets

of Wisdom

by Nikki Cobb

One afternoon, I was talking about how people when you “treat others the way
“Watch your words -- you will have much I disliked a girl at my school who you want to be treated.” In high school,
what you say.” had been mean to me. “She will never be I am faced with a lot of challenges, like
my friend, and she will always hate me.” grades, difficult teachers and students
“Treat others the way you want to No sooner had those words come out of who are sometimes mean and rude.
my mouth, when my Nana said, “Watch
When confronted with challenges, I try to
be treated.” your words -- you’ll have what you say.” remember what Nana has taught me about
Being a curious sixth grader, I asked her treating others like I want to be treated,
“Have you prayed about it?” why it was so important for me to “watch even when they don’t deserve it.
my words.” She explained that, in the
Bible, Jesus once said that when you say The thing I hear the most from my Nana
hese are things my Nana, Sarah Bess something and believe it, you will have when I am facing something difficult is,
Cox, has spoken to me repeatedly it. She also said that when I say things “Have you prayed about it?” That is her
Tthroughout my life and at the most like “never” or “always”, it could have a first thought about everything. Sometimes
random times. We could be in Walmart negative effect not only on me, but also I forget and just go right into trying to
or just watching TV, and she would say on the people around me. She added that solve things myself. Sometimes, I even
one of these phrases to me, depending on what I thought in my heart is what would begin to panic, until I remember what
the situation. I sometimes got annoyed, come out in the real me. Unkind thoughts, Nana says: “Pray about it.” I cannot tell
but what I didn’t understand then, I specifically, could reflect badly on me you how many times something has
now realize: those phrases are precious as well as on others. She wanted me to
“nuggets” of wisdom that I can use to be kind and, by speaking kind things, it
guide my life. would be easier to be patient and loving
like Jesus.
Nana was born at the height of The Great
Depression. She married my “Dad Dad” Another thing she often told me was
when she was 21, and they had three to “treat others the way you want to be
children. She has spent her life serving treated.” I am pretty sure every kid on
others -- especially her family. My the planet has heard the golden rule.
favorite thing about Nana is her faith However, to Nana, it is not just a saying,
and love for Jesus. She is a very wise it is the way she lives. I know this because
and Godly woman who has devoted I have talked to many people who know
her life to making sure her children and Nana, and they always speak so highly of
grandchildren know the Lord. When we her. They say things like “Oh, that Sarah
were younger, she would often talk with Bess! Where is that sweet woman?” or
my cousins and me about the important “Oh, how we miss and love Sarah Bess!”
things in life, to equip us when life They just rave about how wonderful she
becomes difficult. is. This shows me that it really does impact

6 Amarillo Senior Link