The Poem. . .

As a teacher, for the past several months, I have been observing the “disease” known as senioritis spread through a class of anxious, anticipating teenagers awaiting the final bell of high school to ring signaling that one chapter in their book of life was ending.  My memories floated far back to another time. . .as part of the choir, I had sung my last concert, as a part of the band, I drummed my last march, as part of the swim team, I swam my last lap. . . .I could keep the memories floating in but watching this senior class gather the last of their personal items from their lockers – the pictures of BFF’s, the forgotten gym socks, lost assignments - turning to give hugs to favorite teachers, and waves to fellow students, and for the last time walk down halls and out the doors where they had entered hundreds of times over the past four years, I began to recall the words of what I had always thought of as “MacArthur’s Poem.”

Many years ago, someone handed me a speech by General Douglas MacArthur.  As I pondered his words, I found that he had been so inspired by Samuel Ullman’s poem that he popularized it and kept a framed copy in his office while Supreme Allied Commander in Japan. He quoted it so often in his speeches that it became known as “MacArthur’s Credo.”

I think it is only fitting to share it with you during this season of graduation.  I hope that it will help you to always remember that age is only mind over matter and if you don’t mind it doesn’t matter! 

The Poem:

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years.
People grow old only by deserting their ideals.
Years wrinkle the skin but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles
the soul.

Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear and despair . . .
these are the quick equivalents of the
long years that bow the head and turn
the growing spirit back to dust.

Whether 70 or 16, there is, in every being’s heart the love of
wonder, the sweet amazement of the stars, and the star-like
things and thoughts, the undaunted challenge of events,
the unfailing childlike appetite for “What Next?”

You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt,

as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear,
as young as your hope, as old as your despair.

So long as your heart receives messages of
beauty, cheer, courage, grandeur and power from
the earth, from man and from the Infinite,
so long are you young.

When all the wires are down, and all the
central places of your heart are covered with
the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism,
then, and only then, are you grown old indeed,
and may God have mercy on your soul.

"Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice."  Ecclesiastes 4:13

God bless you! -RS

The Cocoon in My Life

A post on Facebook from Delilah, a late-evening and night syndicated DJ, stated, “If a butterfly is released from its cocoon without having to struggle against it, perhaps by a kindly person trying to help, the butterfly will soon die. Without the painful struggle against the cocoon as it emerges, the blood is not forced into the wings, they do not become strong and soon the beautiful creature will die...so it is with people. We must struggle against the cocoon that engulfs us in order to strengthen our wings, so that we might be strong enough to fly...”

I know many times in my life, it is much easier to look for a path already cut, a door already opened. . . in other words, an easy way out.  But, if you are like me, you find that just doesn’t happen, and if you truly want to emerge as the “butterfly” in any situation, you will want to obediently follow Christ and work your way out of your “cocoon”, no matter what that cocoon may be in your life. 

Oh, did I say “obediently”?  I meant to say you will want to follow Christ, even kicking and screaming all the way. . . .”

There are things changing, things are happening in my life right now over which I have no control.  I do not like them.  But I must face them. I feel the cocoon closing in.  I have been spiritually “storing up” for the day when it [the cocoon] closes completely so that I (hopefully) will have the [1] patience that the pupa has to wait until the appropriate time to emerge, [2] that I will have the strength to struggle and work my way out of the cocoon with God’s help (Philippians 4:13), and [3] that I will emerge as the butterfly that He desires for me to be with the sole purpose of accomplishing His will and returning 100% of the honor, glory, and praise to the Father in a victorious manner.

If you feel like you are about to be closed inside of a cocoon, the world and its weight is closing in on you, please be encouraged with the words from Job 23:14, “For he will complete what he appoints for me,  and many such things are in his mind.”

I know that Jesus will not allow you to be alone in that cocoon, as He has promised His undying presence and His unfailing love.  And last, the apostle Paul has instructed us how to get ready to “fight” or “struggle” our way out of the cocoon in which we find ourselves. In the book of Ephesians, as he instructs and warns the church at Ephesus to be ready, he writes, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against ^[e]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ^16 [f]in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. “

 

I’m not really a fighter but I won’t run from one either and, if you notice, in that passage of Scripture, there is NO armor for the back.  God makes it very clear that we are to face off with the enemy in the power of HIS might and strength.

The cocoon is closing, I’m ready.  “Lord, help me to emerge as the “butterfly” you want me to be in order to glorify and lift you up. Amen”  -RS

Mom by God's Design

Sitting here this evening alone with my thoughts, my mind began to travel on a journey back  through the trails of my life, taking with it my thoughts like a light wind blowing wispy clouds across the sky. Tomorrow is Mothers’ Day and I am a Mom, by God’s design and plan – not me - it was nothing I could do or have done to bring children into this world.  But God brought children to me through the non-repayable gift of life and love.  Without my children, I would not be “Mom” and without my grandchildren, I would never know how good it feels to be called “Mimi”!!  (See God's Other Plan, May 12, 2012) But there are thoughts along those trails, that are like trees planted by the way and they remind me of some great and awesome significance in my life and in my journey – it was the ladies, the moms along the way in my own life.

All the ladies in my life, that are most important to me right now, are in this picture (taken at church on Mothers’ Day 2012).  My daughter is a mom now having blessed us with two beautiful granddaughters; my daughter-in-law is a “mother-to-be” or “mother-in-waiting” for her first child. . . .Mothers. . . . .there were many mothers who helped to shape my life throughout the years, and I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that God, in His infinite wisdom, ordained the crossing of my life’s path with each and every one of those women’s lives and the touching of their hearts with mine.  They were the mirror of God’s love.

There was my own Mom, my dear, precious Grandmother, and my dear sweet Aunts: Lu, May, Goldie, Anna, Doris.  Mom instilled within me a never give up, don’t quit, hard-working ethic that drives me forward each day.  Grandma and my aunts helped me to learn the qualities of a proper young lady of the day, and shared with me all the “things” girls, growing up, should know.  Only Aunt Anna and Aunt Doris remain today.  I miss all the others very much. There were my dear neighbors from “up on the hill”, Marie and Carolyn, that kept me abreast with “what was happening in the world” – who helped me realize I could be anything that I wanted to be in life.  Carolyn helped me to be me.  She taught me that life was fun and not to be taken so seriously.

There was my pastor’s wife, Doris B., who cared for me as if she were my own mother, putting up with me and my mischief, laughing with me, crying with me, and gently disciplining me in the love of Jesus when I needed it.  In Bible College it was my Dean, a loving example of a Christian woman, who, with the help of the Holy Spirit, chipped away at my rough edges, gave me a feeling and sense of self-worth and encouraged me, with certainty, that God had His hand on my life. Her loving guidance in my life for three years helped me to become the woman I am today.

During my tween years, I was blessed to meet two wonderful women at a Christian camp who would, through the years, become my spiritual mentors and stand beside me during some of the most difficult times of my life.

Now, reflective of some of the wonderful and not-so-wonderful years, I sometimes feel like I am wedged in a time warp between then and now – still wishing I could visit friends and family on Sunday afternoons to enjoy a cup of coffee or sip a cup of tea. . . .But most all of them have made their journey heavenward as angels ushered each of them through the gates of pearl to eternal glory.

And, no one could have asked for a dearer, kinder, more loving mother-in-law than I had.  She loved me and accepted me into her family as if I had always been a part of it.  She may not have been around during the early days of my life, but she nonetheless impacted my life greatly and left a void in our lives with her passing that has never been filled.

It’s difficult to say which of those wonderful ladies with whom I had relationships had the greatest impact on me and the person I have become.   When I think about all of those influential ladies in my life I am instantly filled with gratitude that I have been fortunate enough to have them impact my life! I know that I would not be half of the person I am today if it weren’t for them being in my life. Individually each of those moms has influenced me in a unique way.

I didn’t realize this fact growing up but when I became a mom I understood so well that we underestimate the value of the people we surround ourselves with. It is proven that we become like those with whom we spend the most time with. Those ladies, those caring moms as I grew up, were my influence because they are the people who prayed for me when I didn’t know how to, when I wouldn’t, when I couldn’t pray for myself.  They loved me when I was unlovely and unlovable and their examples influenced my thoughts, my behaviors, and my attitudes.

Proverbs 1:5 tells us “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.”

For every soul that will be in the kingdom of God because of my witness – each of those women will share in that joyous reward.

So to all of my family Moms, my friend Moms, and Moms everywhere, remember, you are special to someone today and every day and your influence reaches far beyond what you can imagine. I’m thankful and praise God for each and every woman in my life past and present.  To whom are we being the mirror of God’s love?

 

HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY