Inspiration from my past self

I was going through some old journals and a sheet of paper fell out of one of them. When I was younger I loved poetry and would usually journal whatever poem or song I was feeling the most. This paper had a poem on each side. One of them is very well known and the other is one I found in a poetry book and have never seen it before or since so I don't think it is very well known.

Here they are

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
                                   ~Robert Frost

How Did You Die?

Did you tackle that trouble that came your way
with a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
with a craven soul and fearful?
Oh, a troubles a ton or a troubles an ounce,
or a trouble is what you make it.
And it isn't the fact that your hurt that counts
but only how did you take it?

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?
Come up with a smiling face
it's nothing against you to fall down flat,
but to lie there-that's disgrace
The harder your thrown, why the higher you bounce
be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that your licked that counts,
it's how did you fight and why?

And though you be done to the death, what then?
If you battled the best you could;
If you played your part in the world of men,
why the critic would call it good.
Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce
and whether he's slow or spry
It isn't the fact that your dead that counts
But only, How did you die?
                                ~Edmund Vance Cooke

I'm not sure what was going on in my life that these 2 poems inspired me then. But I think it's really cool that I found them when I did. The second one especially describes a lot of things I have thought and even blogged about already. No matter what may happen to me, the important thing is not what happened but how did I respond? I don't always respond the right way. Sometimes I let my flesh respond and that is usually when I feel like a whipped puppy. I'm learning.

In 7 weeks my world is going to change. Am I nervous? Of course! But 100 times more excited than nervous. I am so thankful for the people that are excited with me. Romans 12:15 says (Rejoice) "Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep" You guys are awesome! :-D

I have a new thingy on the side over there---------------------------------------------------------> somewhere, with our prayer partners names. If you would like to be added to our list (because we love you!) let me know (by commenting) and I will add you. I won't send you any junk mail, I will just know you are praying for us :-D we will post prayer needs as they arise on this blog. And, if you would like I can send you a direct email with our prayer needs (but only if you like...I promise not to spam you!)

(And) when I went to find the exact wording of the verse above I thought how awesome and appropriate the rest of these verses where so I decided to leave you with this.

Romans 12:14-21
Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.  Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.
Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.