Verna's Verses

Verna's Verses are presented here in honor of Jim's mother, Verna Minton.  Verna passed away on March 25, 2005, at age 75.

  1. There is no key to happiness; the door is always open.
  2. The Lord doesn't give you what you want; the Lord gives you what you need." --Eric Davis, baseball player 
  3. Making the time to be together is the finest gift we can ever give.
  4. Each new day is a gift from above, for us to fill with friendship and love.
  5. People are known not by how they act when they're in control, but by how they react when things are beyond their control.
  6. A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes another's.
  7. Life is God's gift to us; what we make of it is our gift to God.
  8. Happiness is a perfume: you cannot pour it on others without getting a few drops on yourself.
  9. "Maybe we don't put our young people in situations often enough where they're allowed to fail.  When you fail, you gain experience, and with enough experience, you don't fail as often."  --Colin Powell, Secretary of State
  10. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  --Jeremiah 29:11
  11. Yesterday is experience, tomorrow is hope, and today is getting from one to the other.
  12. Some people, like tea, never know their own strength until they get in hot water.
  13. Greet each day with your eyes open to beauty, your mind open to change and your heart open to love.

 

Verna Minton was described best in the 1996 Decatur Pride Yearbook: 

     "When a job needed to be done, you could always count on Verna to be there to see that it was done.  In her very dedicated way, she hung right in there to see it through to completion.  When people around her expressed negative thoughts or feelings, Verna always remained positive, and would frequently say, 'Think positive.  Things will get better, and tomorrow will be a better day; just hang in there.'  Our organization is a better one because of her tireless efforts over the years, and she will be truly missed."


"My mom not only put this sort of effort into serving the Pride, but also several other organizations, her church, and most importantly, her family.  After Mom's death, I discovered she was sending out as many as 100 cards a month to friends and relatives.  In looking through those files, I found a spiral-bound notebook that contained Verna's Verses.  The preceding are my 13 favorites."  --Jim Minton