“Cancer teaches that life is too short to be lived like that; you take you knocks when they come, not in advance.” — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share Image
They's a heap more to God's will than death, disapoint-ment, and like thet. Hit's God's will for us to be good and do good, love one another, be forgivin'..." He laughed. "I reckon I ain't very forgivin', son. I can forgive a fool, but I ain't inner-rested in coddlin' hypocrites. Well anyhow, folks who think God's will jest has to… — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share
Livin' is like pourin' water out of a tumbler into a dang Coca-Cola bottle. If'n you skeered you can't do it, you cain't. If'n you say to yourself, "By dang, I can do it!" then, by dang, you won't slosh a drop. — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share
Olive Ann describes Sanna as 'a perfectionist and a worrier.' She is obsessed with the idea of finding happiness, and for her, as Olive ann wrote in her notes for the novel, 'happiness means being first with somebody, having perfect, loving children...The theme of Sanna is disillusionment,' Olive Ann wrote. 'Her life is the pursuit of happiness and perfection, but… — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share
“When Jesus said ast and you’ll get it, He meant things of the spirit, not the flesh. Grandpa said Jesus meant us to ast for hope, forgiveness, and all like that. Ast ‘Hep us not be scared, hep us not be greedy, give us courage to try…Ast any such and God will give it to you. But don’t ast Him… — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share
“Well'm, faith ain't no magic wand or money-back gar'ntee, either one. Hit's jest a way a'livin'. Hit means you don't worry th'ew the days. Hit means you go'on be holdin' on to God in good or bad times, and you accept whatever happens. Hit means you respect life like it is - like God made it- even when it ain't… — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share
“Life bullies us son, but God don't. He had good reasons for fixin' it where if'n you git too sick or too hurt to live, why, you can die, same as a sick chicken. I've knowed a few really sick chickens to git well, and lots a-folks git well thet nobody ever thought to see out a-bed agin cept in… — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share
“Grandpa had made the Lord seem so real, I wouldn't of been surprised if he'd said good night to Him. But after a long… — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share Image
But to mourn, that's different. To mourn is to be eaten alive with homesickness for the person. — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share Image
I'm convinced true fulfillment is living in God's world one day at a time, savoring it, leaving today's disapointments behind and borrowing no troubles from tomorrow. It's done not only by accepting life, fever, and things that go bump in the night, but also by cultivating love and new and old friendships, and especially by finding a new work or… — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share
“I have learned to quit speeding through life, always trying to do too many things too quickly, without taking the time to enjoy each… — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share Image
“Two or more year ago she was out workin' in her rose garden one mornin' - did you know, boy, she's got over sixty… — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share Image
Life is like pouring water into a Coca- Cola bottle; if you're the least bit scared you can't do it — Olive Ann Burns Copy Share Image
