"We cannot protect ourselves from trouble, but we can dance through the puddles of life with a rainbow smile, twirling the only umbrella we need -- the umbrella of God's love."
About Barbara Johnson
Barbara Johnson — Life and Legacy
Barbara Johnson was a prominent author and speaker celebrated for her candid exploration of grief and resilience. Her notable work, 'Stick a Geranium in Your Hat,' provides a heartfelt look at navigating loss with humor and grace. Johnson's philosophy centers on the idea that while life presents challenges, our responses to those challenges define our journey. She famously stated, 'The past is a place of reference, not a place of residence,' encouraging individuals to learn from their experiences rather than be trapped by them. This perspective reflects her own life, marked by personal loss, yet filled with a determination to find joy and connection. Johnson's ability to weave humor into her narratives not only made her relatable but also offered readers a pathway to healing. Her insights continue to resonate, reminding us that resilience is not just about enduring hardship but also about embracing life with love and laughter.
Quote collection
Barbara Johnson quotes (page 1 of 4)
72 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."
"Live for today, but hold your hands open to tomorrow. Anticipate the future and its changes with joy. There is a seed of God's love in every event, every unpleasant situation in which you may find yourself."
"The attitude of kindness is everyday stuff like a great pair of sneakers. Not frilly. Not fancy. Just plain and comfortable."
"Life is a refining process. Our response to it determines whether we'll be ground down or polished up. On a piano, one person sits down and plays sonatas, while another merely bangs away at "Chopsticks." The piano is not responsible. It's how you touch the keys that makes the difference. It's how you play what life gives you that determines your joy and shine."
"If you can forgive the person you were, accept the person you are, and believe in the person you will become, you are headed for joy. So celebrate your life."
"Attitude is the mind's paintbrush; it can color any situation."
"Love is what makes two people sit in the middle of a bench when there is plenty of room at both ends."
"Always remember that better days are ahead - if not in this life, in the next."
"Whatever it is probably won't go away, so we might as well live and laugh through it. When we double over laughing, we're bending so we won't break. If you think your particular troubles are too heavy and too traumatic to laugh about, remember that laughing is like changing a baby's diaper. It doesn't solve any problems permanently, but it makes things more acceptable for awhile."
"Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears."
"If things are tough, remember that every flower that ever bloomed had to go through a whole lot of dirt to get there. The almighty Father will use life's reverses to move you forward. So do not keep grieving about a bitter experience. The present is slipping by while you are regretting the past and worrying about the future. Regret will not prevent tomorrow's sorrows; it will only rob today of its strength."
"Faith is seeing light with your heart when all your eyes see is darkness."
"Prayer is asking for rain and faith is carrying the umbrella."
"A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand."
"When you live in the present moment, time stands still. Accept your circumstances and live them. If there is an experience ahead of you, have it! But if worries stand in your way, put them off until tomorrow. Give yourself a day off from worry. You deserve it. Some people live with a low-grade anxiety tugging at their spirit all day long. They go to sleep with it, wake up with it, carry it around at home, in town, to church, and with friends. Here's a remedy: Take the present moment and find something to laugh at. People who laugh, last."
"Laughter is to life what shock absorbers are to automobiles. It won't take the potholes out of the road, but it sure makes the ride smoother"
"Motherhood: if it were going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor."
"Live every day to fulfill your personal mission. God has a reason for whatever season you are living through right now. A season of loss or blessing? A season of activity or hibernation? A season of growth or incubation? You may think you're on a detour, but God knows the best way for you to reach your destination."
"We can never untangle all the woes in other people's lives. We can't produce miracles overnight. But we can bring a cup of cool water to a thirsty soul, or a scoop of laughter to a lonely heart."