Years ago, I am parted these words to one of my sons; maybe he’d done poorly on a test he thought he’d aced. “Let’s imagine two boys walking home from school. One of them was a straight A student and the other got so-so grades. A car pulled up driven by a stranger, lowered his window, and beckoned the boys over to speak to him. The straight-A boy approached the car, but the other kept his distance and yelled for help. Which one was smarter?”
During the course of my life I’ve had the privilege of knowing Einstein types who weren’t people-smart. Not that I didn’t appreciate their intelligence, but I recall one in particular whom children and dogs disliked.
Some might assume the Amish aren’t intelligent because they don’t go beyond the eighth grade or take IQ tests. Yet they were able to present their case at the Supreme Court and win when the Wisconsin School Board demanded the Amish send their children to public high school. An Amish friend’s father participated in the trial.
I would never wish to discourage a youth from attending college if that is their passion, and because most likely their job opportunities will diminish without a degree. But do you need a high IQ and college education to run a thriving farm or business without using electricity or modern technology? Knowledge passed through the generations, community, persistence and ingenuity might be the Amish’s best allies and now a days you don’t even need to go to school to get a title since you can get a fast fake diploma for this. And also reading. If you also need a replica transcripts, you can get this at diplomacompany.com.
One of my favorite Amish publications is Family Life. I love reading the articles and letters to the editor. Each time, I make note of their excellent grammar and expansive vocabulary.
Haven’t we all known so-called intelligent people who have made dumb choices? Who’s smarter? An obedient dog or a standoffish cat? What’s your idea of smart?
Leave a comment and enter to win a signed copy of Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, or Forever Amish from the Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy! USA and Canada. Winner has one week to respond.
Congratulations to Crissy Y. S. for winning the Amish-made potholder from Lancaster County, plus her choice of a signed copy of Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, or Forever Amish. Thank you to all who entered and let me know I’m not alone, plus sharing a few good tips!
would love to win, i think the cat rules the house and us we just think were in charge lol
They’re crafty that way, Pat. At night, I figure they hop right up on the counter or table or wherever they’re not supposed to go. Then in the morning they yawn … Thanks for commenting!
I think dogs are smarter. Smart is being capable to listen, be directed or taught to act wisely 🙂
Would love to read & review one of your books 🙂
I’m a dog lover, too, Deanna, although I’ve seen mine act in silly manners … I’d love you to read one of my books. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Smart isn’t exactly the same thing as wise. It’s great to be intelligent, but even greater to possess wisdom. 🙂
Wondering how to go about getting a copy of Family Life? Thanks!
~Blessings!
Very true, Emily! Thanks for writing your sage comment. Family Life has a Website, but they move at a slow pace … http://pathway-publishers.com/family-life-magazine/
Definitely dogs!
Ah, a dog lover, Rachel! Thanks for writing and entering the book giveaway!
Of corse the cat is smarter. He’s protected by clear glass and can torment the dog all he wants and yet he is kept safe.
Somehow most are, Michelle! And cats sure can wrap their owners around their little finger. Thanks for entering the book giveaway!
I love the life of amish l would love to live life the way thay do.
Thanks for writing and entering to book giveaway, Carolyn! Good luck!
The Amish are very smart.
I agree, Bonnie! Thanks for writing!
I think cats are…My cat knows to stay away from my dogs
You made me chuckle, Kathy! Thanks for writing!
I think barn raisins are so cool. It would be fun to watch.
Thanks for commenting and entering the book giveaway, Virginia! Good luck!
I think the Amish are wonderful people. They pull together to help each other in times of need. I have both cats and dogs I think they are both smart in their own way so I couldn’t pick which is smarter. Thank you for the wonderful books you write!
I appreciate your comment, Ellen! Thanks for writing and entering the book giveaway!
Love reading Amish stories and learning more about their way of life.
I think cats are very bright. They know how to command respect.
There is a saucy and petite black cat that marches right out to face my friend’s dog when we walk, Janice. Fortunately, the dog is a sweetheart. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
Cats and dogs both are smart in their own rights, just in different ways. As such people are smart each in their own ways, some is learned, some is common sense, some people excell at certain things (book smarts) while others are better at physical things (sports ot strenous work). Smartness is all relative to what you are doing or need to do and if you can get the job done in a timely manner and clean up afterwards.
Well said, Lucy, telling me you are very smart! I like that you added clean up afterwards at the end, a notion that does not enter many minds. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
Never thought of different types of smart. We should be more specific about being smart.
Some children and adults are certainly more capable at taking standardized tests than others, Deborah! I assume that’s why students are required to have face-to-face interviews before being accepted into medical school. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway! in his
Smart doesn’t always come out of a classroom or book. Experience counts for a lot I think. My father was a wonderful craftsman who built furniture and he only had an 8th grade education. Life just teaches you a lot. Thanks for the thought-provoking post and an opportunity to remember my precious dad who’s been in Heaven for 40 years! Also, thanks for the opportunity to win! Linda
Thanks for writing about your father, Linda! He’s a perfect example of a skilled craftsman who possessed a kind of intelligence that probably can’t be measured. And thank you for entering the book giveaway!
My idea of smart is someone who uses their talent and doesn’t let it go to waste.Someone that stays busy and doesn’t let life pass them by.
So true, Jackie! You know what they say about idle hands … Thanks for writing!
To me being smart has nothing to do with how intelligent you are. Someone can be super intelligent but if he doesn’t use all that knowledge wisely, he’s not being smart. The same with a person who has less intelligence, maybe more street smarts. If he doesn’t act wisely, he’s not being smart. Would love to read the third book, have already read the other two, and loved them.
Thank you so much, Cherie! I’m glad you enjoyed Leaving Lancaster and Pennsylvania Patchwork! And thanks for your comment, which demonstrates your smarts! Good luck in the book giveaway!
Being known as smart becomes apparent by the choices we make.
Thanks for leaving your comment, Debbie! A wise move. Good luck in the book giveaway!
Being smart, to me, is realizing that life is temporary and we need to live with the next life in mind.
Aha, Loretta, a whole different level of smart, and one that some extremely educated people are unable to grasp because they can’t make sense of something that cannot see. Thanks for writing!
Book smart doesn’t mean that you are intelligent. You have to be able to figure things out in a logical way.
I agree, Colleen, not to mention social skills, which are essential in almost every area of life. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
Being smart is being able to use common sense. I too know many people who are “book” smart and they have no common sense at all! Good luck to all on winning a wonderful prize
Sad but true, Debbie! Having a genius IQ does not guarantee a drop of common sense. Thanks for writing and entering the book giveaway!
I’ll take a hatful of common sense over a bushel load of book smarts any day. I love the way the Amish come together to help each other out, whether at a barn raising, or cooking a large meal, or helping with bringing in a crop.
Oh, I love the way you said that, Gail! Thanks for writing and good luck in the book giveaway!
I think dogs are smarter, but maybe that’s because I like them better. Anyway I would love to win one of your books. Thanks!
Thanks for writing, Polly! I’ve always loved dogs, but for some odd reason cats like me. A friend told me I have good cat etiquette, which I guess means I don’t give them eye contact or initiate a relationship. Good luck in the book giveaway!
I think dogs are smarter than cats! I also think common sense and traditions handed down to other generations are better than most people’s book smart education.
I’m a dog lover, Donna, although I’ve owned a couple cats that exhibited an uncanny intuition. I sure have seen others boss their owners around. It seems, with people moving far away from their relatives and home towns, there is less chance for children to learn family traditions. I’ve known several very well educated people who lack common sense … Thanks for your comment!
Think I already commented but here goes. Think the Amish are smart.
Thanks, Bonnie, I found your comment below!
I think there is room in the world for both kinds of “smart’ depends on your God given talents.
you need common sense whether you are book smart or life experience smart. I think if you use your gifts you can succeed at either one. The Amish are not uneducated, they use their gifts wisely.
Thank you
I agree, Jackie! I wonder if there’s a way to measure common sense. When the Amish went to the Supreme Court, one argument was that they learned what they needed most was from their parents and from living at home. And many Amish read, a venue for all of us to expand our education. Thanks for writing!
Hello Kate.I have a daughter who has cats and I think they are pretty smart. And, they come to her when she calls them just like dogs do. Also, they have cats on you tube that do all sorts of tricks. I used to laugh at one of her cats. she would drag a piece of clothing over her food dish to hide it. Then she would eat from the others bowls. Later, she would uncover hers and still have more food for later. That is pretty smart. Also she put food in a spot by the couch for one of the cats. Once when I was there another of the cats wanted that food. She would tell it no and it would move away. She told me to watch the cat. It came close on it’s tummy. When it was close enough it would take one paw sideways and slowly reach into the bowl and with its paw scoop out some food and lay it close to her. Real sneaky. Was so funny. I think some people are smart about some things but have no common sense. I was scolding two older granddaughters once about something they did or didn’t do. I asked them didn’t they have any common sense. These were teens and they looked at me and said what’s that Gramma? I said it is things you should learn from just living and watching things being done as you grow. And making wise choices. I love the simple ways of the Amish, but they also work very hard. Theeir simple ways remind me of life when I was growing up. I liked that things were less busy back them and family spent more time together. I would sure love to have the last book in this series. Maxie
Your daughter’s cat sounds smart, Maxie! You’re right about common sense. Too funny what your granddaughters said! Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
When I was in college my best friend was on the Dean’s list (I had to struggle to keep B’s & C’s). She made a comment one day about if we could put her brains and my common sense together we would be unbeatable. I started laughing & told her she didn’t have enough common sense to come out of the rain in a thunder storm. About a week later we were outside the dorm with some friends. It started raining and she started dancing in the rain. When the lightening started I told her to come out from under the big oak tree. She wouldn’t. I asked her if she remember our conversation about common sense. She did. All I said was, “Point Taken!” She came inside. Right before lightening hit near where she had been dancing.
Love the story about the cat. We had a stray that took up with us. Tabitha was an outside cat (by choice) and whenever I came home and my husband and sons weren’t home she wouldn’t let me pass the laundry room door. She would go through the whole house checking out everything -under the bed, in the closets (if left open by the boys) and when she finished she would go to the back door to be let out. She only did that for me. Never for the boys or Larry.
Two wonderful stories, Pat! Both are terrific. Thanks for sharing them! Oh, my, I can practically hear the deafening thunder. Thanks for writing!