The phrase 'Old Habits Die Hard' is an expression that has remained in common use for many centuries. There is a lot of debate as to who initially coined the phrase, with some people giving Benjamin Franklin the honour, as he wrote the words in a published article in 1758. Others claim that it may have been in use as early as the fifteenth century, but there is no concrete proof of this.
Anyway, regardless of its origins, we all understand it's meaning: Any established habits are hard to break.
It is interesting that if I asked us if this phrase was used in a positive or negative context, most of us would lean towards the negative. I certainly relate this expression to the bad habits that I have a tendency to keep repeating - these old habits are hard to shake off and change.
However, what if we took the expression solely in a positive perspective? The good habits that we have created over time (that are now viewed as old or established) are equally hard to break. They will not easily die off, if we keep nurturing them.
As we start 2023, I feel it is good practise to reflect on all our habits - both healthy and destructive - and to ask God to help us with each of these. The healthy habits need to be maintained, but the destructive ones need courage to quit or to change.
Proverbs 18:9 - "Slack habits and sloppy work are as bad as vandalism." (The Message)Questions:
- What healthy habits do you need to feed and grow this year?
- What destructive habits must you stop?
- What new habits can you create, that will become 'old' and resilient habits for future years?
Living in Grace
D3LM3
No comments:
Post a Comment