Reflections of a Mother
 

I gave you life, but cannot live it for you.
I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.
I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you.
I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.
I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe.
I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you.
I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside.
I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.
I can advise you about friends, but cannot choose them for you.
I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure.
I can tell you the facts of life, but I can't build your reputation.
I can tell you about drinking, but I can't say "no" for you.
I can warn you about drugs, but I can't prevent you from using them.
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can't achieve them for you.
I can teach you about kindness, but I can't force you to be gracious.
I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral.
I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God's family.
I can teach you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life.
 

Author Unknown
 
 
 

    A STATE OF MIND
 
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't;
If you'd like to win but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you've lost;
For out in the world you'll find
Success begins with a person's will;
It's all in the state of mind.

Life's battles don't always seem to go
To the strongest or fastest man,
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.
Anonymous

You will always have my love.
There is nothing that means more to me,
Than the joys in life you've helped me see
With your openess and honesty
You will always have my love.

Every dream you have is my dream too,
For I want what's truly best for you,
And I'll cherish you my whole life through
You will always have my love.

You don't need to hide your doubts or fears,
For I want to share your smiles and tears
And to be there for you through the years
You will always have my love.

I don't think I'll ever find a way
To describe just what I feel each day,
I can only hold you close and say
You will always have my love.

 
 

 
 
DON'T QUIT
 
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worse,
that you must not quit.
 

 
 
 
                                             Autumn '99




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