Old Wives' Fables

1 Tim 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

This verse has always cracked me up. My mother's folks came over on a boat from the old country almost a hundred years ago and Grandma Schleiger was full of them.

They included:
-don't open an umbrella in the house, it will cause bad luck.
-if a bird flies into the house, someone is going to die. If two fly in, or even try to get in by flying agaist the glass, then two people will die.

Some of the other maxims of old include:
-Ice cream leads to nightmares.
-Toes pointed up signify low blood sugar.
-High heart rates lead to female fetuses.
-If you step on a crack you'll break your mother's back/step on a line and break your mother's spine.
-Breaking a mirror will earn a person seven years of bad luck.
-Don't swallow gum or it will stay in your stomach for seven years.
-Various other stories, all resulting in "seven years" of something.
-Don't make silly faces or your face will stay that way forever.

Today, the internet is rife with urban legends, which kind of fall into a related category.

It is best for those who minister to stick with the true and simple gospel message and exercise ourselves unto godliness.