"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Full Circle

A funny story. I was born in Chicago 1953 - my dad was transferred to Georgia in 1959 - transferred back to Chicago in 1969 - and we chose to move back to Georgia in 1986. So I am a half and halfer - although Georgia is my home.

It was 1968, I was 15, and had fallen in love - it was my first love. It was a time of great turmoil for me. When my dad was transferred back to Chicago I was devastated. My first love gave me a piece of paper when I left Georgia. It was 'Courage'. I thought it was his, not that he ever said it was his, I just assumed it.

I loved that poem or writing and tried to learn to live by it. Here it is.

Courage

Courage begins when we can admit that there is no life without some pain, some frustration: that there is no tragic accident to which we are immune; and that beyond the normal exercise of prudence we can do very little, or nothing, about it.

But real courage goes beyond and sees that the triumph of life is not in pain avoided, but in joys lived completely in the moment of their happening.

Courage lies in never taking so much as a good meal, or a day of health and fair weather for granted. It lies in learning to be aware of our moments of happiness as sharply as our moments of pain. We need not be be afraid to weep when we have cause to weep, so long as we can rejoice at every cause for rejoicing.

Here's the ending I didn't know about:

But how can I do this? I feel so inadequate and frustrated at times...
I believe the answer is to allow God to be in control.


Now back in April of 2008 I blogged about that poem - I had always loved and remembered it.

Sometime later a wonderful gal named Marjorie Meachum Fedor wrote me personally. She sent me a note saying that she was the author of that poem. It was in a book called Joy Comes In The Morning.

She was a dear and mailed me a copy of the book. It was great - something uplifting was written for every mood you could ever be in - good times and bad. A book for people who are waiting for the sun to rise. And sure enough the poem was there. I told her I loved her book and was going to share it with my daughter. We have been writing back and forth a little and I had actually forgotten how me met as she is not a blogger. And this was her reply.



"Dear Sandie

I'm so glad you enjoyed my book …thank you for your kind words about it. I hope your daughter enjoys it too.

Joy Comes in the Morning was my first experience with publishing. Everything and everyone just came together at the right time and place, for which I am thankful to God. He seemed to open the doors and move me through them. I have been writing for over 50 years and have, on many occasions shared with family and friends, who have freely shared it with others. Page 3 in my book speaks of this process.

I continue to write but I am not sure if I will ever publish again. I would like to but time and circumstances may make it difficult. However, if God wants it done He will lead the way.

You asked "How did we meet?" One day just out of curiosity I looked up Joy Comes in the Morning on the Internet and as I scanned through it I found that Chatty Crone was looking for the author of "Courage". I found your blog, got your email address and introduced myself ,and I am so glad I did. No, I do not have a blog. I am “acquainted” with my computer, but my pad and pen are my comfortable best friends and that, along with verbal conversation, are my "stock in trade".

I sense that God intended for us to meet. Perhaps it will simply be a delightful rest stop along life's way, or maybe He has bigger plans. I hope we will soon have an opportunity to get better acquainted.

Love

Marj"

Now that poem has gone full circle for me. Isn't life interesting and full of God Winks? What is odd is she mentions Full Circle and I've mentioned full circle. Why did God have us find each other. She seems like a very sweet lady.



Has anything like this ever happened to you? Meet someone in an unusual circumstance?
Do you remember your first love?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:



48 comments:

Marti said...

Enjoyed your post and the poem. Life is certainly a mystery. Waiting on God is the hard part.

From the Kitchen said...

I do remember my first love. I was four and he was in his mid-twenties. He was an army lieutenant whose parents lived next door. I have several photos of the two of us--me sitting on his lap looking adoringly at him. Alas, he married another--one much closer to his age.

Best,
Bonnie

Ginny Hartzler said...

What a wonderful story, Sandie!! This lady is so sweet, and what a great writer!! I have had things like this happen to me, but not in such a dramatic way!!! And I do believe that God puts certain people in our path for a reason!!

Jill said...

Thanks you for sharing this beautiful and remarkable story!

TexWisGirl said...

that is awesome. the internet connects us all so much easier these days...

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Good Morning Sandie Sweetie...
What a wonderful share. I have been searching for my word for the year, and I think I just found it. "Courage". I love this word. You have helped me this morning. What a wonderful way for the circle to continue.

My first love, yes I do remember. I was in the 1st grade. His name was Jimmy Derr. He was a red head with lots of freckles. We were friends throughout our school years, but never like that first day he walked in with his red flannel shirt, and rolled, cuffed blue jeans. I was love struck.

Hope you have a gorgeous day today sweet friend. Thanks for the memories this morning. Many hugs and much love, Sherry

Jim said...

Hi Sandie ~~ Marj's are the good guys! My mom was Marjorie.

I put a little funny quip poem that circulates on the e-mail as a Fw: Fw:'s a lot on to my blog once, even saying it had come off of a circulating e-mail.

My author wasn't"a dear and [didn't] mail(ed) me a copy" of her book of goodies. So no, I just pulled it which she asked, wrote her an apology e-mail, and said nothing about her on my blog. Now I don't even remember her name.

So that is wonderful for the both of you that Mrs. Fedor is so gracious. I have only known personally one published writer and she died several years ago. She was a dear also.
..

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I love the poem! I think I need courage right now and I'm going to print this out where I can see it daily. I love how she found you. hugs, Linda

Rae said...

Great post. Sounds like it was destiny for you two be a part of each other's lives. It is a wonderful story of friendship.

MadSnapper said...

this is a fantastic story, a true story. the author was so very kind to send you the book to continue to email you. I was born in Savannah GA in 1952 moved to Ky, moved back to GA in 1959, i am exactly 10 years older than you but our stories are much alike. i loved KY with all my heart and when we moved back to Savannah i was 15 and thought my world had ended. from 15 to 19 my life was misery, i could not let go of KY and mourned and made no friends. i needed the Courage then but did not have it. I had the Lord but did not let him comfort me. this is my most favorite post you have done since i started following you. thanks a lot.

Tonya said...

What a fun story. Thanks for sharing. I love stuff like that! It's neat how God brings people together! :)

Linda O'Connell said...

Sandie, I do not believe in coincidences, as everything happens for a reason and I know we are all so interconnected. Isn't it wonderful when things like this happen?

Anonymous said...

Lovely story Sandie ^_^ and I really liked the poem. I believe that things happens for a reason and people comes into your life also for a reason. I do remember my first love ^_^ I was 18.
We didn't move around at all when I grew up, I moved out when I was 18 and had finished school.
Bright blessings!

Eva

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I love the poem! This is a great story, Sandie. Marjorie is a wonderful writer and sounds like a lovely person. It's really neat that you have gotten to know her through the poem.

I had several boys I really liked and had crushes on from early on, but my first real love was a guy a year behind me in high school. He was so cute and he even gave me his ring until my dad found out about it. That ended that for a time at least. My aunt set up a (surprise to me) meeting between us a few short years later when I was home from college and he was in town on leave from the Navy. What a cool thing that was! But the timing was wrong and we didn't make a go of it.

Have a great day!

Lois Christensen said...

What an interesting story! And beautiful poem. I think that the people I've met here in blogging and continue our friendship on Facebook is amazing. I truly call you all friends even though we've never met in person! Hope you're having a nice day!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Wow, Chatty, that is just the neatest story!

Ann said...

what a nice poem and wonderful story. The internet has a way of making the world a much smaller place. I love it.

Wanda's Wings said...

It's amazing the people God puts in our lives. that is indeed a great poem.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

An another awesome segment of your life, Kiddo!...:)JP

Clint said...

Oh, my!---yes, my second grade teacher was an angel to me, an apparition so magnetic that I could never take my eyes off of her.

I was also born in the Windy City. I call myself a southerner, however, because I was born on the south side. Ha. My family settled in Houston when I was a boy and then as an adult I lived all over the place. Whenever I am back in Toddlin' Town I fall in love with it all over again, although I have like everywhere I have lived---except Miami, Florida. Yecchhh.

Your poem is wonderful. And what a great story that goes with it. Every now and then, something remarkably wondrous occurs on the internet. These moments are too few and far between, but when they happen they are unforgettable.

Marie said...

Beautiful story Sandie! The author sounds like a really nice person.
I do remember my first love. His name is Scott and he lives about 45
minutes from me. We have stayed in touch a little. I still have a few cards and poems he had given me along with a few pics.
I do believe God is guiding me. I do my best to live in the present and enjoy every moment now. :)
Hope you're having a wonderful week Sandie!

Unknown said...

What a great story! I sure remember my first love. We found each other after almost 40 yrs, and e-mail each other a few times a year now.
Gloria

The Boston Lady said...

Sandie, what an inspiring story! I'm impressed with the young man, your first love, he must have been exceptional to be inspired by that poem at such a young age. And how wonderful that you and the author communicated. I hope she does plan to publish again.

Oh yes, I remember my first love, or at least that's what I thought it was. He broke my heart. After I met my husband, first love came back around and told me that breaking up with me was the biggest mistake he ever made. I wanted to tell him I owed him a thank you because I never would have met my real true love, my husband, (who at the time was just my BF)but I didn't. There's always a little piece of your heart that belongs to that first love, it is magical, painful and sloppy. Ann

Nancy's Notes said...

Sandie, what a captivating story! It did go full circle! How wonderful for you and the author of the awesome poem to find one another! This is a God thing! Thank you for sharing.

Hugs!

Nancy

Sally said...

Lovely story, Sandie. Thanks for sharing. Yes, I remember my first love; we were 14 and got married at 20. :)

DaCraftyLady said...

What a great story. :) My 1st love was my 1st husband who is deceased now. I met him when I was 12 in upstate NY and we ended up getting married, of course when I grew up, and we moved to CA where I stayed.I still go back home to visit family and always return to where we had met, Point Breeze, hence where I got the name for my design shop. :) PBDesigns

Jeanie said...

The internet does shrink the world and expand our potential for meeting people and making friends. Your "Courage" tale is a wonderful story.

Betty said...

Your first love was quite mature and insightful. Have you ever googled his name? He could be writing his own poems today. Great story!

I don't think you have one of those things on your blog which tells you how people arrive. I find it interesting when it's through a google search. Taffy Apple Salad gets quite a few hits around the holidays.

deb said...

Great post and sweet memories ♥
*hugs*deb

Belle said...

I love the poem. It is very encouraging. How sweet your boyfriend gave it to you. It is wonderful you met the author.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Wonderful post, Sandie... I loved reading your story. The poem is wonderful and so is the writer... That was so neat that your paths crossed... God is so GOOD....

It does take courage (with God's help) to get through this life... When I moved back to TN in 2000--I left my family and came ALONE.. Talk about needing courage to make that move. BUT--I didn't realize that God was leading me to George... Praise God...

Hugs,
Betsy

Susan said...

Hi Sandie....That was a nice post. Good story. Wow, it sure DOES take courage to live this life, doesn't it? Oooo weee. Can't imagine life without courage or without faith! Too hard.

Take care and have a good Friday. Susan

Sally Wessely said...

This was such a heart warming post. I loved how this poem came full circle for you, and from this poem, you made a new friend who just happened to have written the poem originally. That is a God thing.

I have a dear friend that I met in an unusual way. It is a long story, but God was in it for sure. She is now in Sweden, at age 70, taking a course of study through Torchbearers Bible School. The average age for students of this Bible school is probably about 22 or 23. She is an inspiration!

Mimi said...

HI SANDY!!!!
WHAT A GREAT POST!!!SO glad you shared that poem and I sure HOPE you meet the author one day!!!
First love is my hubby, we met in high school, I was 14 or 15 and he was 17....after several years apart, we met up again in church and the rest is history!!!!
Meet someone by weird chance.....hmmmmmmm. have to think on that one!!!
LOVED your story
hugs,
jamie

Tweedles -- that's me said...

What a cool story!
love
tweedles

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

My first love was Tonto, but he ran off with Scout.

Bev said...

well an interesting post...and we're now I know...we were born the same year:)

Grandma Bonnie said...

Thant is a beautiful poem and wonderful story! Gods will is always working overtime.

Angela said...

Beautiful poem! That is so neat how she found you Sandie! I'm glad that you two have become quick friends. I've always lived in West Virginia except for 4 years when I first married we lived in Maryland. My first crush was a boy in kindergarten named Danny. Then it was David in 2nd grade that I liked. Mike was next and then John and a few otehrs, but you know my heart belongs to my husband, Ron!

Hugs,
Angela

Anonymous said...

The ending as the beginning in so many ways! Guess I'm headed back to diapers uhn? :0) wink wink

Rob-bear said...

Great piece on courage from Marj; beautiful story from you, too.

Thank you.

BlueShell said...

Excellent Post! I'm speechlessness...
thank you. And thank you for your tenderness and your friendship.
LOVE
BS

Nancy said...

I'm always amazed at the situations that are possible due to technology.

Loving this post, Sandie. :)

Debbie said...

Yes, I remember my first love. I would rather forget it though.

This is a wonderful full circle story, Sandie. I actually think I've heard of that book before. I don't know why I do, but it just sounds so familiar.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

That is such a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it. I know I have a few stories like that but can't remember them at this moment.
That was definitely a Godincidence!

Icewind said...

I haven't checked in on you in awhile but I had a feeling I needed to but it took 'courage' for me to drop by.

I hope all is well with you.

Icewind

Tanna said...

This is an amazing post, Sandie. Speaks volumes to the glory of God's winks!! {{HUGS}} tanna

sandy said...

Loved catching up - laughed at the hard of hearing joke, loved the Chinese phrases ...all of it great! Gotta run but I hope I can read some more later.