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.
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:
