GOOD TIMBERThe tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got it's share of rain,
Never became a forest King
But lived and died a scrubby thing.
The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.
Good timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees,
The further the sky, the greater the length,
The more the storm, the more the strength,
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow
Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.
By Douglas Malloch
This is one of my favorite poems. It speaks Truth so profoundly and simply.
Truly, this is one of the great purposes of this life--to become like our Father... In every sense of the word. Is there not a more beautiful destiny of us, His children that that? There was no easier way. We needed this tough earth life. To learn the godly qualities of patience, love, kindness, endurance, humility, strength...
One that I have learned (am learning) recently is: To grow broader shoulders. The only reason I was able to endure law school (pregnant) and study for the Bar (with a baby) and then during the Bar strain my neck muscles (see the first post-with my neck brace) and not have a nervous breakdown (at least not often!)--is because of this reminder.
My dear dad reminded me several days before the Bar: "Christy, you need not let this run your life, ruin your nerves, or consume your energy. This test is so small in the eternal perspective. You will look back and wonder why you were so consumed and nervous about a test. There are more important things. And you can meet anything! For heaven sakes-You are a daughter of a God. And He has a lot more on His plate than that. You must learn to "grow broader shoulders...stronger shoulders." You must learn to not break when hard things come upon you. You must learn to become more like Him." Amen Dad!
