Our family has a euphemism, “Put the lady down.” It doesn’t mean what it sounds like it might.

It comes from an old joke about two monks who are walking along and come to a river that they’ll have to wade through. Next to the river was a lady of ill repute who was concerned about getting across. The older, more experienced monk offered to carry her over, and she gladly accepted. She climbed up on his back and entwined her legs around him. On the other side she got down and expressed much gratitude for the help. The two monks parted ways from her and continued on for quite a while.

Finally, the younger monk couldn’t contain his agitation any longer and asked the other monk with indignation, “Why did you sully yourself touching that hussy?” The other monk wisely responded, “I put her down on the other side of the river. Why are you are still carrying her?”

I love this story because there are things we all need to let go of.  It also reminds me of the court case in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, which all hinges on and spirals out from one single verb: “to ruminate.”

If you don’t ruminate in the first place, and just “put the lady down,” you are saved from much subsequent grief!