When people ask about the best piece of advice I’ve ever received, I could point to any number of classic lines — “Do the right thing even when no one’s watching,” “Measure twice, cut once,” or “This too shall pass.” All good words. All worth living by.
But if I’m honest, the real treasures didn’t come from a book or a mentor or even a pastor. They came from my mom. She was the wisest person I’ve ever known, and I’ve missed her voice every day for the past 18 years.
She taught me to listen infinitely more than I speak (I’m still working on that one). She taught me to treat everyone as precious — because everyone, no matter who they are now, was once somebody’s baby. She taught me that worship is one of the highest callings and that time spent in God’s presence is never wasted.
By her example, she showed me the value of reading, both for myself and for my daughter, and the importance of investing in family with presence and love — whether that meant listening when we needed to talk or simply picking us up from school.
In the end, all of her lessons pointed to one thing: she modeled for me what it means to be Christlike.
So yes, I’ve received plenty of good advice over the years. But the very best? It came from Mom.
What about you? Who gave you the best advice you’ve ever received?
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.
