RULE SEVEN
… for a Better Way to Live
Each day is a special gift from God, and while life may not always be fair, you must never allow the pains, hurdles, and handicaps of the moment to poison your attitude and plans for yourself and your future. You can never win when you wear the ugly cloak of self-pity, and the sour sound of whining will certainly frighten away any opportunity for success. Never again. There is a better way.
Life isn’t fair … and probably never will be. There may be times when you do most of the work and yet someone else gets the credit. You may work twice as hard as your neighbor, and you know you’re twice as smart … and yet you earn only half the money that he or she does.
There are many times when life deals us a bad hand. How do you play the bad hands when you get one? Do you hang on, refusing to give up, even though you have no guarantee you’ll succeed … or do you whine and pity yourself because you are certain that your troubles and problems are far more terrible than anyone else’s misfortunes? Poor baby!
Almost two decades ago, I received a tiny yellow card with a poem on it, printed in green, from Wilton Hall, who was publisher of Quote Magazine in Anderson, South Carolina. The poem has had a special place in my life through all these many years. I not only share it, during my speech, with all my audiences, but I keep it handy for my own well-being. Whenever things aren’t going quite the way I planned or the day gets off on the wrong foot or I begin to feel a little irritated with others and maybe a little sorry for myself, I pull out my poem, read it, and then get on with my life, gratefully, pausing only long enough to look up into the heavens to say, “Thank you …”
Yes, lean over and let me give you the original dog-eared copy. It’s a treasure, and I’ll bet that you, too, like me, will come back to it often in the future, as well as sharing it with your friends.
Lord, Forgive Me When I Whine!
Today, upon a bus, I saw a lovely girl with golden hair, I envied her … she seemed so gay … and wished I were as fair. When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle; She had one leg and wore a crutch; But as she passed … a smile! Oh, God forgive me when I whine, I have two legs. The world is mine!
I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm. I talked with him. He seemed so glad. If I were late ’twould do no harm. And as I left he said to me, “I thank you. You have been so kind. It’s nice to talk with folks like you. You see,” he said, “I’m blind.” Oh, God, forgive me when I whine, I have two eyes. The world is mine.
Later, while walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue. He stood and watched the others play. He did not know what to do. I stopped a moment, then I said, “Why don’t you join the others, dear?” He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear. Oh, God forgive me when I whine. I have two ears. The world is mine.
With feet to take me where I’d go, with eyes to see the sunset’s glow, With ears to hear what I would know … Oh, God forgive me when I whine. I’m blessed indeed. The world is mine.
Author Unknown
RULE SEVEN
… for a Better Way to Live
Each day is a special gift from God, and while life may not always be fair, you must never allow the pains, hurdles, and handicaps of the moment to poison your attitude and plans for yourself and your future. You can never win when you wear the ugly cloak of self-pity, and the sour sound of whining will certainly frighten away any opportunity for success. Never again. There is a better way.