Discarding godliness

[Sandra Davies]

‘Cleanliness is next to godliness’.  

That was one of those things my mother didn’t say to me, but nevertheless I heard it often enough when I was very young.

Before my eighth birthday godliness was relinquished.  Pretty soon after I knew cleanliness had not automatically shuffled to the top of the list.

Then, I think, I jettisoned the list.

Only this morning (while cleaning the kitchen worktop) did it occur to me to wonder what qualities I should have substituted and I decided perhaps honesty and tolerance and loyalty might not be a bad top three.

[Gita]

My parents must have skipped over that chapter in the child-rearing book. Thank goodness. You can't go fishing and not get worm guts on your hands, and you can't garden without, well, soil-ing yourself.

[Sandra Davies]

Thank you all.   In the back of my mind I was hoping others would add their own perceived, to-be-aimed-for top qualities ...

[Jamie Hogan]

Whoever coined "cleanliness is next to Godliness" is a big dope. I love your top three. Anyone who operates with healthy doses of those is way ahead of the game. And I love how eloquently you write about the simplest parts of the day.

[Angela]

Sounds good to me.  Sounds better than the original premise.

[Kristine_ES]

Sandra.. i'm with you all the way:  honesty, tolerance and loyalty go a far way longer than a clean counter top. !

[bolton carley]

lol, jk!!

[jkdavies]

I'm lucky my mum never said that to me ;)

[bolton carley]

playing games in your head, huh?  i'm so with you.  cleanliness is not at the top of the list.  your 3 are better!

[Joey Delgado]

A very fine top three, indeed. Far more important than cleanliness. Love your musings.