Before an’ After

A New Year provides each of us with a clean slate, a fresh start, and a chance to improve. Actually, our slate is not clean, but we do have a chance to reflect and make adjustments in our old ways. And our fresh start evolves from those reflections and adjustments so that we do have a chance to improve. 

Hebrews 3:13 advises us that today is the day for change and that we should encourage one another. 

One good suggestion is to start the day with an affirmation that will give you strength and courage to shape your live in a manner that will help you reach your Christian potential. 

Jeremiah 29:11 helps you be hopeful, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” And 2Timothy 1:7, ”…for God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.”

A New Year is the perfect time to start, reflect on past days, resolve to improve, and set yourself up for success. Don’t allow yourself to fall victim to what some unknown person once said, “ A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other!”

Before an’ After

Just like Ol’ Father Time bids his last farewell,

An’ the young sprout steps right in,

Gives us time to pause an’ ponder our own trail,

We all have a place to begin.

From the get go, life had its ups and its downs,

Tho as a kid, it was carefree,

Sometimes we are measured by our smiles and our frowns,

See, that includes you and me.

I had this old pard that was a lot like me,

An’ shore was a deep thinker.

Wisdom just oozed out, made him seem sorta carefree,

Some would call him an old stinker.

He often thought back to when he was just a kid,

Runnin’ barefoot to the creek,

No doubt but what he was wearin’ that ol’ straw lid

That ol’ crown shoved up to a peak.

There he’d meet up with a passel of his pals,

An’ we’d plan just what to do,

So we could manage to stay hid out from them gals,

Dang, we did not have a clue.

An’ from summer to winter, the years rolled by,

An’ our notions seemed to change,

We pulled silly stunts to catch an admirin’ blue eye,

Some tricks were dumb an’ purty strange.

Then a turrible malady took us by surprise,

We got red faced an’ tongue tied,

Couldn’t say much no matter how hard you tries,

Appeared that our brains was fried.

But time just marched on as only time will do,

An’  life taught us a lesson,

Like warshin’ up a bit an’ spittin’ out our chew

Knockin’ the dust off that ol’ setson,

‘Cuz of a sudden, them gals took on a diff’rent look,

An’ these lads were mystified,

An’ bumfuzzled at the change their life had took,

An’ just what it had implied.

Now it’s a fact that life moves along for one an’ all,

An’ it sure did for them boys,

They dressed up an’, on the girls, they came to call,

Just one of many of life’s joys.

Well, most all of you know how life seems to change,

When Ol’ Cupid slings his arrow,

You can run an’ hide clean acrost this range,

Chances for escape are narrow.

‘Course there is the full moon an’ her Mom’s apple pie.

An’ you find yourself hogtied,

But you sorta like the idea, so why not give it a try,

An’ act a bit dignified. 

Well, now one thing leads to another of course,

As time will march slowly on,

When you find yourself hooked, according to the source,

An’ life as a bachelor is gone.

See, Pap says, “that’s when you got your love an’ ignorance mixed up,”

But you just don’t seem to care,

‘Cuz life is treatin’ you just like a speckled pup,

An’ it’s a fact, love is in the air!

Again, time marches on an’ you’ve got wife an’ kids.

An’ you know that life is good,

So do your best to teach them right ‘bout life an’ its skids,

Doin’ exactly what you should.

Them kids grow up an’ go on to  chase their dreams,

An’ the house gets awful quiet,

Yet the wife an’ you stay busy as a bee it seems,

Thanking the Lord with all your might.

Then you are blessed and overjoyed with Grandkids,

And they tug on the strings of your heart,

So you teach them about life and fit them with straw lids,

See, you are just doing your part.

Then the years race by bringin’ good as well as bad, 

As one tries to keep the pace,

But you cling to the truth that God’s love is ironclad.

Always holdin’ tight to God’s Grace.

You see, , time does march on ‘til it’s out of sight,

That’s what memories are for,

An’ you relish each one with all your might,

Those magic moments before 

‘Cuz Ol’ Father Time does bid his last farewell,

An’ a young sprout sees fit to begin,

Gives us time to pause an’ ponder our own trail,

An’ thank our Lord for steppin’ in!

  ©  Ol’ Jim Cathey     

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 God bless each of you and God Bless America!